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History is Made

Posted by Peg Sandeen, MSW on May 20, 2013

Vermont: the first state to pass a Death with Dignity law through legislation!

Lawmakers in Vermont supported the rights of terminally ill individuals and passed a Vermont law designed on the Oregon and Washington Death with Dignity Acts—the first one to be enacted through a legislative process and first of its kind on the east coast.

Today's historic event comes after more than 10 years of diligent work by our partners, Patient Choices Vermont. From the beginning in 2002, our family of organizations has been directly involved as a full partner with Patient Choices Vermont. Together, we've changed the entire conversation around end-of-life care policy reform.

The new Vermont law emulates the Oregon and Washington Death with Dignity Acts and provides a process for mentally competent, terminally ill patients to achieve a peaceful death by ingesting medication provided by their physician.

Read more: History is Made

Defend dignity. Take action.

You are the key to ensuring well-crafted Death with Dignity laws for all Americans. With your financial and volunteer help, the Death with Dignity National Center, a 501(c)(3), non-partisan, non-profit organization, has been the leading advocate in the death with dignity movement. Member contributions helped us pass a new Death with Dignity law in Washington, defend the Oregon law, and provide education and outreach programs for the vitality of the death with dignity movement.

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