Financial Incentive for Assisting Suicide

Earlier this week, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District IV, ruled in Donna Limmer v. Linda Schunk that persons who assist in the suicide of another are still entitled to the inheritance of the deceased person. This dangerous decision encourages persons who have a financial interest in another's death to assist that person in committing suicide. [Americans United for Life]

At issue is a case in Clark County where Linda and Megan Schunk allegedly drove Edward Schunk, their husband/father, to a cabin on their property and left him there alone with a loaded shotgun. He subsequently killed himself with the gun. The case is Donna Lemmer v. Linda Schunk. Linda and Megan Schunk are inheritors under Edward's will. Another daughter of Edward's, Donna Lemmer, filed proceedings claiming that Linda and Megan should not be entitled to their inheritance because they assisted in Edward's suicide.

The court concluded that the probate statutes only disallow inheritance when there
is intentional killing, and concluded that assisting a suicide is not an intentional
killing under the probate statutes. Wisconsin does have a law which specifically
prohibits assisted suicide.

"Wisconsin Right to Life plans to seek either court or legislative action to close this
loophole. For the protection of our citizens, the state should not provide a financial
motive to those who participate in a suicide," commented Barbara Lyons, Executive Director of Wisconsin Right to Life.