Kit Roberts
An 85-year-old former doctor has been sentenced to five years probation after he helped a woman to die by suicide.
Stephen P Miller, 85, was sentenced to five years of probation for his role in the death of 59-year-old Doreen Brodhead.
Miller, a former doctor from Tucson, had been arrested on a charge of second degree manslaughter.
His arrest was carried out under a provision in New York law which allows for the arrest of people who assist others in dying by suicide.
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Despite asserting that he 'did nothing wrong', Miller pleaded guilty to second degree manslaughter as part of a plea deal to avoid jail.
His lawyers said that Miller is infirm and did not wish to die in prison.
In a statement by his lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman, Miller maintained that morally he had not done anything wrong.
Lichtman told reporters: “Technically, he violated the law. We accept that, but with the understanding that morally, Stephen Miller did nothing wrong.”
The attorney added that Miller would not assist anyone else in ending their life, saying 'that part of his life is over'.
In court Miller was asked his plea by Judge Bryan Rounds, who asked him: “Are you pleading guilty because you are, in fact, guilty of manslaughter in the second degree?”
Miller replied: “By your definition, yes."
Miller had spoken with Brodhead for around six months prior to her death, describing it as an 'act of mercy' according to a report from the New York Times.
Brodhead had reportedly reached out to Miller due to his work with the assisted dying advocacy group Choice and Dignity.
The former doctor travelled to a motel in Kingston, located around 80 miles north of New York City, from Arizona to be with her when she died.
According to Lichtman, Miller provided 'very slight technical assistance'.
Housekeeping staff found her body on November 9, and authorities concluded that she had died 'by means of assisted suicide' according to a statement from the Ulster County district attorney's office.
Miller obtained his medical degree in 1964 and worked as a doctor in a number of different US states including Illinois, Massachusetts, California, and Texas.
He had also previously lost his licence to practice medicine after being found guilty of tax fraud in Texas, Lichtman said.
Miller was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of tax fraud in 2006, a Department of Justice news release detailed at the time.
A spokesperson for Choice and Dignity told UNILAD: "We were deeply saddened by the arrest and prosecution of Dr. Miller.
"We believe that people should have the choice of when to end their lives.
Steve was being a compassionate presence for her passing. To prosecute him for that is a miscarriage of justice."
UNILAD has reached out to Jeffrey Lichtman, Ulster County district attorney's office, and Choice and Dignity for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741