Vermont Becomes First State to Allow Terminally Ill People from Out of State to Access Medically Assisted Suicide Law

Vermont has become the first state in the country to change its medically assisted suicide law to allow terminally ill people from out of state to take advantage of it. This change follows a court settlement last year in which Oregon agreed to stop enforcing the residency requirement of its law allowing terminally ill people to receive lethal medication.

Vermont had previously reached a settlement with a Connecticut woman who has terminal cancer to allow her to take advantage of its law, provided she complies with other aspects of it. On Tuesday, Republican Governor Phil Scott signed a bill that removes the residency requirement for the decades-old law.

The bill was welcomed by advocates of medically assisted suicide, who have long argued that terminally ill people should have the right to choose how and when they die. “We are grateful to Vermont lawmakers for recognizing the right of terminally ill people to make their own end-of-life decisions,” said John Kelly, executive director of Compassion & Choices, a nonprofit organization that advocates for medically assisted suicide.

The new law is expected to take effect in July. It will allow terminally ill people from out of state to access the law, provided they meet certain criteria, such as having a terminal illness and being a resident of Vermont for at least 15 days.

The bill is a major victory for advocates of medically assisted suicide, who have long argued that terminally ill people should have the right to choose how and when they die. It is also a reminder of the importance of protecting the rights of terminally ill people to make their own end-of-life decisions.