Aid-in-dying laws spread.

• Author: Scotti, Samantha
• Position: TRENDS - Brief article

One of Colorado's November ballot initiatives made the state the latest to legalize physician aid in dying, which allows a terminally ill patient to receive life-ending medication from a doctor. The state is not the first to consider this controversial and emotional issue, also known as physician-assisted suicide or death with dignity, nor is it anticipated to be the last.

Laws in five states--California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont and Washington--currently allow physician aid in dying. A court ruling in Montana provides protection from prosecution to physicians who aid dying patients.

Oregon was the first state to allow physician aid in dying in 1997, when voters approved the Death with Dignity Act. Colorado and Washington joined Oregon in approving the practice through a voter-initiative process. Vermont and California legalized the practice through legislation in 2013 and 2015, respectively.

Although not always easy to implement, states with current aid-in-dying laws have developed guidelines for participating patients, including eligibility and reporting requirements. In Oregon, for...