Washington v. Glucksberg

Washington v. Glucksberg was a 1997 Supreme Court case that addressed whether a state could prohibit physician-assisted suicide. The Court ruled that such practices are not protected by the Due Process Clause of the Constitution, implying that states have the right to set policies around ending life for terminally ill patients. The decision emphasized that legal rights not explicitly stated in the Constitution require careful consideration, and ultimately upheld states’ interests in preserving life and ensuring ethical medical practices. It established that the right to die is not a fundamental constitutional right.