The Act states:
Actions taken in accordance with this chapter [the proposed Act] shall not, for any purpose, constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing, or homicide, under the law. (Emphasis added).[1]The Act does not define accordance.[2] Dictionary definitions include “in the spirit of,” meaning “in thought or intention.”[3] In other words, a mere thought or intention to comply with the Act is sufficient to prevent a death from being treated as suicide or homicide. Actions taken in accordance with the Act are not suicide or homicide as a matter of law.
New Hampshire death registration forms require the manner of death to be reported as one of six categories, four of which are substantive: (1) natural; (2) accidental; (3) suicidal; and (4) homicidal.[4] The two other categories are: pending investigation; and undetermined.[5]
As noted above, actions occurring in accordance with the Act are not suicide or homicide as a matter of law. The death will also not be accidental due its having been an intended event. This leaves “natural.”
The official legal manner of death will be natural.
Footnotes:
[1] The Act, Section 137-M:13, IV.
[2] See the Act in its entirety, available here.
[3] See here and here.
[4] New Hampshire Vital Records Administration, Death Registration Forms and Procedures, Section 5-C: 62 IV(c) , available here.