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Michigan Proposal B, Physician Assisted Death Initiative (1998)
| Michigan Proposal B | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Assisted death policy |
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| Status |
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| Type Indirect initiated state statute |
Origin |
Michigan Proposal B was on the ballot as an indirect initiated state statute in Michigan on November 3, 1998. It was defeated.
A “yes” vote supported allowing physicians to prescribe lethal doses of medications to terminally-ill adult patients, under certain criteria. |
A “no” vote opposed allowing physicians to prescribe lethal doses of medications to terminally-ill adult patients, under certain criteria. |
Election results
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Michigan Proposal B |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 859,381 | 28.88% | ||
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2,116,154 | 71.12% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Proposal B was as follows:
| “ | PROPOSAL B INITIATED LEGISLATION TO LEGALIZE THE PRESCRIPTION OF A LETHAL DOSE OF MEDICATION TO TERMINALLY ILL, COMPETENT, INFORMED ADULTS IN ORDER TO COMMIT SUICIDE. The proposal would: 1.) Allow a Michigan resident or certain out-of-state relative of Michigan residents confirmed by 1 psychiatrist to be mentally competent and 2 physicians to be terminally ill with 6 months or less to live to obtain a lethal dose of medication to end his/her life. 2.) Allow physicians, after following required procedures, to prescribe a lethal dose of medication to enable a terminally ill adult to end his/her life. 3.) Establish a gubernatorially appointed, publicly-funded oversight committee, exempt from Open Meetings Act and whose records, including confidental medical records, and minutes are exempt from Freedom of Information Act. 4.) Create penalitis for violating law. Should this proposal be adopted? Yes No | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
An indirect initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are nine (9) states that allow citizens to initiate indirect state statutes.
While a direct initiative is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiative is first presented to the state legislature. Legislators have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. Should legislators take no action or reject the initiative, the initiative is put on the ballot for voters to decide.
In Michigan, the number of signatures required for an indirect initiated state statute is equal to 8% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. As an indirect process, the Legislature has 40 days to adopt the initiative after signatures are certified. Otherwise, a simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
See also
Footnotes
External links
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State of Michigan Lansing (capital) |
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