Last week, Colorado voters approved a measure to allow terminally ill residents to end their life peacefully if they choose to do so. Here, courtesy of The Denver Post, is what you need to know about the new law. Once the law takes effect, terminally ill Colorodans will be able to legally take a life-ending, doctor-prescribed sleep medication.
The patient must be at least 18, and have to be diagnosed as terminal by two physicians. The prognosis must be that the patient will die within six months. Patients must be mentally capable of making an informed decision. The law defines an informed decision by stipulating that the patient must be informed about other end-of-life options.
Patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are not eligible to take the drug. Oregon adopted a similar law 20 years ago, upon which Colorado’s law is modeled. In the patient’s records, the underlying illness will be listed as the cause of death.
