Baxter v. Montana

Baxter (plaintiff), who was terminally ill and in persistent, significant pain, sued the State of Montana (defendant), seeking to establish that he could legally obtain a lethal dose of medication from his physician to ingest at a time of his own choosing. He argued terminally ill patients have a right to die with dignity under the Montana Constitution's guarantees of individual dignity and privacy. The trial court agreed and granted summary judgment for Baxter, and the State appealed.