Top court rejects appeal by doctor over euthanasia of ALS patient
KYODO NEWS - 30 minutes ago - 19:35 | All, Japan
Japan's top court has rejected an appeal by a doctor convicted of consensually killing a woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a rare neurological disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2019 in Kyoto, western Japan, finalizing his 18-year prison sentence.
The Supreme Court's Second Petty Bench rejected arguments that found Yoshikazu Okubo, 47, guilty of aiding another's suicide would violate the constitutional right to self-determination.
In Japan, euthanasia is not legally recognized.
The Kyoto District Court in March last year sentenced Okubo to 18 years in prison for administering a lethal dose of a sedative to Yuri Hayashi, 51, judging that his actions were "not socially acceptable, as she was killed in such a short amount of time that it would prevent an adequate examination or confirmation of intent."
The Osaka High Court in November upheld the lower court ruling.
According to the ruling, Okubo conspired with former doctor Naoki Yamamoto, 47, to administer the sedative to Hayashi in her Kyoto apartment in November 2019 at her request. Okubo was also convicted of killing Yamamoto's 77-year-old father in 2011.
Yamamoto was convicted of murdering his own father by unspecified means, for which he received a 13-year prison term. His sentence was finalized in 2024.
Related coverage:
Doctor's 18-yr term for consensual killing of ALS sufferer upheld
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Kyodo News
19 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Top court rejects appeal by doctor over euthanasia of ALS patient
KYODO NEWS - 6 hours ago - 19:35 | All, Japan Japan's top court has rejected an appeal by a doctor convicted of consensually killing a woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a rare neurological disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2019 in Kyoto, western Japan, finalizing his 18-year prison sentence. The Supreme Court's Second Petty Bench rejected arguments that found Yoshikazu Okubo, 47, guilty of aiding another's suicide would violate the constitutional right to self-determination. In Japan, euthanasia is not legally recognized. The Kyoto District Court in March last year sentenced Okubo to 18 years in prison for administering a lethal dose of a sedative to Yuri Hayashi, 51, judging that his actions were "not socially acceptable, as she was killed in such a short amount of time that it would prevent an adequate examination or confirmation of intent." The Osaka High Court in November upheld the lower court ruling. According to the ruling, Okubo conspired with former doctor Naoki Yamamoto, 47, to administer the sedative to Hayashi in her Kyoto apartment in November 2019 at her request. Okubo was also convicted of killing Yamamoto's 77-year-old father in 2011. Yamamoto was convicted of murdering his own father by unspecified means, for which he received a 13-year prison term. His sentence was finalized in 2024. Related coverage: Doctor's 18-yr term for consensual killing of ALS sufferer upheld
Kyodo News
a day ago
- Kyodo News
Top court rejects appeal by doctor over euthanasia of ALS patient
KYODO NEWS - 30 minutes ago - 19:35 | All, Japan Japan's top court has rejected an appeal by a doctor convicted of consensually killing a woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a rare neurological disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2019 in Kyoto, western Japan, finalizing his 18-year prison sentence. The Supreme Court's Second Petty Bench rejected arguments that found Yoshikazu Okubo, 47, guilty of aiding another's suicide would violate the constitutional right to self-determination. In Japan, euthanasia is not legally recognized. The Kyoto District Court in March last year sentenced Okubo to 18 years in prison for administering a lethal dose of a sedative to Yuri Hayashi, 51, judging that his actions were "not socially acceptable, as she was killed in such a short amount of time that it would prevent an adequate examination or confirmation of intent." The Osaka High Court in November upheld the lower court ruling. According to the ruling, Okubo conspired with former doctor Naoki Yamamoto, 47, to administer the sedative to Hayashi in her Kyoto apartment in November 2019 at her request. Okubo was also convicted of killing Yamamoto's 77-year-old father in 2011. Yamamoto was convicted of murdering his own father by unspecified means, for which he received a 13-year prison term. His sentence was finalized in 2024. Related coverage: Doctor's 18-yr term for consensual killing of ALS sufferer upheld
Yomiuri Shimbun
a day ago
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Lawsuit Accuses Musk of Bribing Wisconsin Voters with Cash Prizes
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