As aid in dying legislation continues to be passed all over the country, nearly 20% of Americans will be living in jurisdictions where terminally ill patients can legally end their life. The laws allow physicians to write prescriptions for lethal drugs when a patient qualifies. The procedure is complicated, requiring two oral requests, a written request, extensive discussions, and two physicians’ approval. Additionally, patients must have the capacity to make medical decisions. The cultural and political context surrounding the legislation, however, has changed considerably over the last two decades. There have been substantial gains in acceptance throughout various groups and organizations, but this alone does not broadly provide aid in dying to those who want it. In the upcoming years, it will be important to address how end-of-life care and aid in dying can improve to provide those in need with the help they desire.
See Paula Span, Physician Aid in Dying Gains Acceptance in the U.S., N.Y. Times, January 16, 2017.
Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.
