Will Colorado Be the Next State to Approve Aid-In-Dying?

The most recent issue of Governing magazine contains an article on the upcoming vote in Colorado on aid-in-dying. Colorado Could Strengthen Aid-in-Dying Movement explains “[t]he movement has been slow to gain momentum — Oregon was the first state to legalize aid in dying in 1994. But Colorado could reignite the cause in November. Voters there will be weighing Proposition 106, a ballot measure modeled after Oregon’s. It would give mentally competent adults with a medical prognosis of six months to live the right to request a prescription to end their lives. Two doctors must agree.”

The article notes that looking at past state referendums, one would think the odds are long for Colorado approving the measure. But “Colorado … may beat the odds. According to a September poll, 70 percent of Colorado voters support the measure, 22 percent oppose it and 8 percent are undecided.”

As to be expected with this type of legislation, there are supporters and opponents. Two of the state’s newspapers urged voters to not support the bill.  The governor of Colorado supports the bill, saying: ‘”It’s not about suicide…. These people are going to die anyway. They’re terminally ill… I think they should have that right to have medical advice, medical supervision, be able to make sure they have the final say themselves.”‘

Stay tuned…