Vermont lawmakers are now debating whether terminal patients have a right to end their own lives. Legislation introduced in the Vermont House — The Vermont Patient Choice & Control at the End of Life Act — seeks a law similar to Oregon's "Death with Dignity" bill that was enacted in 1998. The bill allows for a patient with a terminal condition — who has voluntarily expressed a wish to die — to make a written request for medication that would result in their death.

Lawmakers will take a back seat Tuesday, however, as the public will have a chance to offer their opinions and attempt to persuade elected officials to either support or reject the policy. A public hearing will be held inside the House chamber from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

End of Life Act debate

"Sometimes the hearings can have the ability to change minds. Unfortunately, at these public hearings,

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people tend to say the same things," said Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington. "I'll certainly be listening to the debate on the issue. I have not made up my mind. I've told people that if I had to vote today, I'd vote no."

Rep. Anne Lamy Mook, D-Bennington, says she is leaning in favor of the legislation, but would like to hear the arguments made Tuesday.

"I think people are looking forward to the debate on Tuesday. My plans are to be there," said Mook. "I am going to be listening to both sides, but I do have a preferred side. I believe in the opportunity of choice. ... I would like the opportunity to choose and that sort of automatically puts me on the side of death with dignity," said Mook.

Both Sears and Mook say they have heard from doctors and constituents on both sides of the issue, as well as religious groups who oppose the idea of someone taking their own life.

If the bill reaches the Senate floor, Sears said he would need to hear compelling evidence concerning a doctor's influence on terminal patients in order to vote in favor of it.

"What I would need to vote yes would be an understanding that this wasn't going to hinder the doctor-patient relationship when they are in that stage of life," said Sears. "I've got concerns about the bill. ... One of the things that you have to wonder about is that Oregon has had it for years, but no other states have done it."

With testimony taken on the bill Friday in the House Human Services Committee, the atmosphere in the Capitol has grown lively, but not as deeply divided as the civil union debate in 2000, said Sears.

"You have people walking around with badges on both sides. If you're not on one side or the other you're the enemy. ... People feel very, very strongly about it on both sides, but it's not as strong as the civil union debate we had. Still, people are very charged up and passionate about it," said Sears.

A similar bill failed to reach the House floor last year after it failed in the House Human Services Committee on a five to five vote, but some polls suggest that an overwhelming majority of Vermonters are in favor of giving terminally ill patients choices at the end of their lives.

A Zogby International poll of 541 adult Vermonters taken last week showed that "82 percent of Vermonters expressed support for legislation to allow mentally competent adults to request and receive medication from a physician to peacefully end suffering and hasten death." Opponents of the legislation say the questions asked in the polls are often misleading, however.