Ex-Doctor Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in NY Woman’s Suicide Case

An 85-year-old former doctor from Tucson, Arizona, has entered a guilty plea to a charge of manslaughter related to an incident where he allegedly assisted a woman in committing suicide in a motel room in New York. Stephen Miller was arrested earlier this year for second-degree manslaughter, a charge applicable under specific provisions of New York law for individuals who intentionally cause or aid in another person’s suicide.

As part of a plea agreement reached in state court, Miller will serve a sentence of five years probation. The legal repercussions stem from an event that took place in November 2023, when he traveled from Arizona to Kingston, New York, to be with the woman at the time of her death.

Housekeeping staff discovered the woman’s body on November 9, 2023, and local authorities, including Kingston police and emergency services, determined her death was due to assisted suicide. In February, Miller was arraigned on charges of second-degree manslaughter and two counts of assault after he voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement. Initially, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

During court proceedings on Tuesday, Miller’s attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, asserted that his client offered comfort and “very slight technical assistance” to the woman who had been suffering from debilitating pain for many years. Lichtman emphasized that the woman sought Miller’s help due to his previous involvement with an advocacy group called Choice and Dignity, which focuses on issues surrounding end-of-life choices.

“Technically, he violated the law,” Lichtman acknowledged to reporters, but he underscored the moral complexities surrounding Miller’s actions, suggesting that he did nothing wrong in a broader ethical sense.

During his plea hearing, Miller responded softly to inquiries from Judge Bryan Rounds. When asked about his guilty plea, Miller affirmed, “By your definition, yes.” The judge further clarified that the definition of manslaughter is specified in New York state law.

After the hearing, Miller chose not to respond to inquiries from reporters, as reported by the Associated Press. Notably, Miller’s medical license was revoked following a 2006 conviction for tax fraud in Texas, for which he served nearly four years in prison.

Efforts to legalize assisted dying in New York have faced challenges and have not succeeded in recent legislative sessions, although several states have approved medical aid in dying laws. Miller’s case highlights ongoing debates surrounding end-of-life choices and the legal implications for those who assist in these processes.

This situation continues to draw attention not only for its legal ramifications but also for the ethical discussions it raises regarding the complexities of assisted suicide and the role of medical professionals in such scenarios.

Source: Fox News