Weeks 50-51/2016 in the Death with Dignity Movement

In the final two weeks of 2016, from December 19 to December 31, 2016 and through January 1, 2017:

• Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Death with Dignity Act of 2015.
• Death with Dignity South Dakota received approval from the state’s Attorney General to collect signatures to put a measure on the 2018 ballot.

Colorado

• “Aspen Valley Hospital to decide whether to opt in or out as end-of-life facility at special meeting Monday, Dec. 19,” Aspen Times, 12/19/2016
• “5 Things to Know About Colorado’s End-of-Life Options Act,” 5280, 12/22/2016

District of Columbia

• “Washington, D.C., Approves Aid-in-Dying Bill,” US News & World Report, 12/20/2016
• “Bowser quietly signs legislation allowing terminally ill patients to end their lives,” Washington Post, 12/20/2016
• “D.C. Mayor Signs Hotly Debated “Death With Dignity” Act; Bill Moves to Congress,” WAMU, 12/20/2016
• “Norton Will Defend D.C.’s ‘Death with Dignity Act’ from Congressional Interference,” Congresswoman Eleanor Norton, 12/20/2016
• “D.C. Mayor Approves Physician-Assisted Suicide Legislation – But Its Future Isn’t Guaranteed,” Independent Journal Review, 12/27/2016

Hawaii

• “It’s Time For Hawaii To Approve Medical Aid In Dying,” Honolulu Civil Beat, 12/27/2016
• “Health Beat: 2017 Should Be The Year For A Death With Dignity Law,” Honolulu Civil Beat, 12/29/2016

South Dakota

• “Proposed law “Death with Dignity” might be on 2018 ballot,” KEVN-FOX, 12/21/2016
• “Spearfish mom wants new end of life law,” KOTA Territory, 12/23/2016
• “Spearfish woman backs `Death with Dignity’ referendum,” Rapid City Journal, 12/26/2016
• “SD woman fights for ‘Death with Dignity’ referendum,” Sioux City Journal, 1/1/2017

Elsewhere

• Iowa: “Give me freedom of options in dying,” Des Moines Register, 12/26/2016
• Minnesota: “Counterpoint: Physician-assisted death must be a final option,” Star Tribune, 12/28/2016
• New Jersey: “A Dying Man’s Wish To Donate His Organs Gets Complicated,” NPR, 12/26/2016
• New York: “Medical aid in dying should be a compassionate option,” Albany Times Union, 12/21/2016 (reprinted in Adirondack Daily Enterprise; response: “Letter: Let citizens opt for assisted dying,” Albany Times Union, 1/2/2017)
• Oregon: “The Inner Circle: Each said yes when their friend with ALS asked them to help him die,” OregonLive.com/The Oregonian, 12/26/2016
• Utah: “Medical Aid In Dying Bill To Return in 2017 Session,” KUER, 12/29/2016
• Vermont: “The Shumlin Legacy: A Governor Who Wasn’t Afraid to Think Big,” VT Digger, 12/28/2016
  

Other Stories

• “Fifty-seven percent of physicians believe physician-assisted death should be available to terminally ill patients, up from 54% in 2014 and 46% in 2010.” “Assisted Death: Physician Support Continues to Grow,” Medscape, 12/29/2016