Most states have laws against aiding a suicide or assisted suicide. These laws are usually found in the state’s statutes, and sometimes in the state’s court opinions or case law (common law). The severity level of these crimes range from misdemeanors to felonies.
In Massachusetts, assisting in a suicide is considered a crime. The state does not have a statute that explicitly criminalizes assisted suicide, but the act falls under the common law offense of manslaughter. This was affirmed in the 1997 Supreme Judicial Court case Commonwealth v. Moulton, where the court held that assisted suicide is manslaughter. Manslaughter in Massachusetts can be either voluntary or involuntary, with the latter often applied in assisted suicide cases. It is a felony offense, and those convicted may face significant prison time. Additionally, Massachusetts does not have a Death with Dignity Act or similar legislation that allows for physician-assisted suicide, which means that any form of assistance in the suicide of another person could lead to criminal charges.