Voters in Colorado could decide in November whether physicians in this state should be allowed to prescribe drugs used in Oregon and four other states to allow terminally ill patients to “die with dignity.”
A campaign in support of the ballot measure kicked off Tuesday with a rally on the steps of the state Capitol. The measure would allow terminally ill, mentally capable adults to access medication that would allow them to “shorten the dying process if suffering becomes unbearable,” according to the “Yes on Colorado End of Life Options” campaign.
“We should respect the choice for those who want to end their suffering and be with family in their final days,” said Julie Selsberg, whose father died slowly from Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Colorado would become the 6th state to authorize “medical aid in dying.” failed this year.
Under the ballot initiative, Coloradans would have to be diagnosed by two physicians with a terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less to live, be at least 18 and mentally capable in order to receive the prescription. Volunteers are gathering the necessary signatures to get the measure on the November ballot.