Rhode Island

2022
Another bill to legalize prescribed suicide, also named the “Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act,” (H 6600) was introduced on January 6, 2022.
Text of H 6600.

2021
The “Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act” (H 5572) and (S 775) have been introduced in Rhode Island. The bills did not pass
Text of H 5572
Text of S 775

John Kelly’s Compelling Testimony on Rhode Island’s Assisted Suicide Bill
(Not Dead Yet — April 27, 2021)
Kelly, The New England Regional Director for Not Dead Yet, clearly outlines the dangers inherent in Rhode Island’s proposed law (S 0775), including insurance ultimately taking away choice from people, mistakes in diagnosis that effects millions of people, abuse that can occur and much more.

2020
The “Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act” (H 7369) was introduced in Rhode Island. The bill did not pass.
Text of H 7369

2019
The “Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act” (S 0320) was also introduced in Rhode Island.
Text of S 0320.

The “Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act” (S 0157) was again been introduced in Rhode Island.
Text of S 0157.

The “Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act” (H 5555) was also introduced in the Senate on February 27, 2019.
Text of H 5555.
On 3/27/19 the the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare recommended that the measure be held for further study.

2018
H 7297  (“Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act”) was introduced in Rhode Island on January 25, 2018.  On April 4, 2018, the measure was held for further study.
Text of H 7297.

2017
H 5468  (“Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act”) was reintroduced again in Rhode Island on February 15, 2017. At the request of the sponsor, the committee was postponed on March 13, 2017.
Text of H 5478
and
S 0224 also titled the “Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act”) was reintroduced in Rhode Island on February 2, 2017.
Text of S  0224

Neither bill passed in 2017.

2016
H 7659 (the “Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act”) was reintroduced in Rhode Island.  The bill would have permitted doctor-prescribed suicide.
It failed to pass by the legislative deadline.
Text of H 7659
Analysis of H 7650

2015
H 5507 (the “Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act”) has been introduced in Rhode Island.  The bill would permit doctor-prescribed suicide.
Text of H 5507
Analysis of H 5507

On April 8, 2015, the RI House H.E.W. committee recommended that the measure be held for further study.
In previous years, six similar bills were introduced in the state.  All failed.

Current Rhode Island law regarding assisted suicide:
An individual or licensed health care practitioner who with the purpose of assisting another person to commit suicide knowingly provides the physical means by which
another person commits or attempts to commit suicide;
or
Participates in a physical act by which another person commits or attempts to commit suicide is guilty of a felony and upon conviction may be punished by imprisonment for up to ten years, by a fine of up to ten thousand dollars or both.
and
The attorney general is empowered to seek an injunction against any person violating the provisions of the law on assisted suicide. The person who has been assisted or counseled in an attempt to commit suicide, may seek an injunction against all future unlawful assisted suicides by the particular individual who assisted or attempted to assist the suicide.
A cause of action for injunctive relief under this section may be maintained by the attorney general against any individual or licensed health care practitioner who is reasonably believed to be about to violate or who is in the course of violating the law on assisted suicide.
(R.I. Gen. Laws §11-60-3 and R. I. Gen. Laws §11-60-5)