Death with Dignity Around the U.S.

Death with Dignity Around the U.S.

The 2008 passage of the Washington Death with Dignity Act not only marked a great victory for Death with Dignity supporters, it also inspired legislators in other states to begin working on this important issue. Since the win in Washington, bills that seek to improve end-of-life care have been introduced in nine different state legislatures around the country. As the table below indicates, seven states have introduced Death with Dignity laws similar to those in Oregon and Washington, and two states have proposed laws that require physicians to inform patients of all of their end-of-life options.

The Oregon Department of Human Services’ most recent report on usage of the Oregon Death with Dignity Act has also contributed to the recent popularity of Death with Dignity laws. The report, released in March 2009, indicates that the law has continued to work as intended for the 11th year in a row.

While the future of the Death with Dignity bills is uncertain, the two Right to Know bills in Vermont and Maryland have passed through the House and are expected to be received favorably by the Senate. Additionally, 56 of the 150 members of the Vermont House of Representatives have sponsored the Death with Dignity law, indicating widespread support of Death with Dignity in that state.

Below is a summary of the status of Death with Dignity and end-of-life care efforts and legislation around the nation.

  • Arizona - End of Life Options, Right to Know legislation. Senate Bill 1311 introduced and sponsored by Sens. Lopez, Allen C, Burton Cahill, Landrum Taylor, Miranda; Representative Sinema; Sens. Aguirre, Alvarez, Rios; Reps. Campbell CH, Campbell CL, Farley, Miranda B, Waters. In Committee on 6/8/09.

  • Connecticut - Death with Dignity (DWD) legislation. Senate Bill 1138 sponsored by the Judiciary Committee. Committee voted to reject the bill on 3/19/2009.

  • Hawaii - DWD legislation. House Bill 587 sponsored by Ito. Re-referred to House Judiciary Committee on 2/10/2009.

  • Hawaii - DWD legislation. House Bill 806 sponsored by Oshiro, Belatti, Karamatsu, Marumoto, Say, Thielen, and Bertram. Re-referred to House Judiciary Committee on 2/10/2009.

  • Maryland - Right to Know legislation. House Bill 30 sponsored by Bobo, Manno. Passed House, referred to Senate Finance Committee on 3/18/2009.

  • Massachusetts - DWD legislation. House Bill 1468 sponsored by Kafka and Galvin. In Joint Committee on Judiciary on 1/16/2009.

  • Montana - DWD legislation. LC 1818 sponsored by Barrett and O’Connell. Draft Died in Process on 4/28/2009.

  • New Hampshire - Update: as of 1/13/10 - The New Hampshire House has voted 242 to 113 today to kill a bill that would have allowed people suffering from terminal conditions to choose their own manner of death. DWD legislation. House Bill 304 proposed and sponsored by Weed, Richardson, Watrous, and Mitchell. Retained In Committee - House Judiciary on 2/19/2009.

  • New Mexico - DWD legislation. House Bill 814. Proposed by Karen E. Gianni. Died on Legislature Day #23.

  • Pennsylvania - DWD legislation. SB 404 sponsored by Leach, Boscola, and Washington. Referred to Judiciary Committee on 3/5/2009.

  • Vermont - DWD legislation. House Bill 455 sponsored by Zuckerman and 55 others. Referred to Human Services Committee on 4/24/2009.

  • Vermont - DWD legislation. Senate Bill 144 proposed by Lyons, Snelling, Ashe, Bartlett, Flanagan, MacDonald, McCormack, Miller, Racine, Shumlin, White, & Ayer. In Committee - Health and Welfare on 4/17/2009.

  • Vermont - Right to Know/Palliative Care legislation. House Bill 435 sponsored by House Committee on Human Services. Passed. Governor Douglas signed it into law in May, 2009.

  • Wyoming - Assisted Suicide Ban. House Bill 120 sponsored by Reps. Davison, Brechtel, Jaggi, McKin, and Petersen, and Sens. Cooper, Meier, and Peterson. As of 2/2/2009, inactive: failed deadline, no further consideration this session.
    • Posted on June 16, 2009.
    Tags: bill, death, dignity, end-of-life care, legislation, oregon, palliative care, right to know, state, us

    Defend dignity. Take action.

    For more than 14 years, the Death with Dignity National Center (DDNC), a 501(c)(3), non-partisan, non-profit organization, has been the leading advocate in the death with dignity movement. Leaders in our organization originally wrote and have continued advocating for the Oregon Death with Dignity Law. DDNC has met these challenges through extensive legal defense of the Oregon law, education and outreach programs, and by developing and nurturing diverse financial resources with one goal in mind: to ensure DDNC's financial vitality and its position as a leader in the death with dignity movement.

    Your donation today will enable us to continue to advocate for the right of the terminally ill to die with dignity. Please click here to give a secure, online donation. Thank you.

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    Political Action Fund

    The Death with Dignity National Center partners with the Oregon Death with Dignity Political Action Fund (the Fund) to conduct lobbying and political activities in order to achieve the enactment of Death with Dignity laws in other states. The partnership resulted in tremendous success with the resounding win in the 2008 Washington Death with Dignity campaign.

    Learn more about the Fund's efforts to bring dignity to people around the nation.

    About Death with Dignity

    The greatest human freedom is to live, and die, according to one's own desires and beliefs. The most common desire among those with a terminal illness is to die with some measure of dignity. From advance directives to physician-assisted dying, death with dignity is a movement to provide options for the dying to control their own end-of-life care.

    Death with Dignity National Center (DDNC) is the leader in this movement, successfully establishing, advancing and defending the landmark Oregon Death with Dignity Act -- a national catalyst for openly discussing and actively reforming end-of-life care for those who are terminally ill.

    Learn more about the National Center and our family of organizations.

    Patients & Families

    The Death with Dignity National Center was formed out of a profound commitment to the idea that personal end-of-life decisions should be made solely between a patient and a physician. Based on this commitment, we are pleased to provide you with support and information as you face the difficult challenges ahead.

    Access resources for patients and families.

    Research Center

    We have compiled a comprehensive collection of legal briefs, journal articles, and newspaper clippings. We invite you to explore the wide array of information we have collected throughout our history.

    In our Research Center you will find frequently asked questions, the history of the death with dignity movement, state monitoring statistics, and a copy of this groundbreaking statute.

    Dive into the archives of the National Center.