Court to hear assisted-suicide arguments

HELENA (AP) — A state judge is hearing arguments in a lawsuit over physician-assisted suicide in Montana.

A group called Montanans Against Assisted Suicide is suing the state Board of Medical Examiners over its policy on complaints filed against a doctor for providing "aid-in-dying."

The board considers such complaints on an individual basis and does not pass judgment on the procedure one way or another.

The group argues the policy is a backdoor attempt at legalizing assisted suicide.

A hearing is scheduled Wednesday before District Judge Mike Menahan in Helena.

The state Legislature this session failed to clarify whether the practice is legal or illegal. It is the second legislative session in which a bill failed to pass since a 2009 state Supreme Court ruling that found nothing in state law prohibits physician-assisted suicide.