Controversial Colorado Bill Seeks to Shorten the Waiting Period for Assisted Suicide
A bill currently under consideration in the Colorado legislature has caused heated debate and raised concerns among many. Senate Bill 24-068 aims to reduce the mandatory waiting period for medical aid in dying from 15 days to just 48 hours.
While proponents argue that this change will offer more options to critically ill individuals, critics express reservations about the potential for rushed decisions and inadequate safeguards.
Colorado first legalized medical aid in dying in 2016 through Proposition 106, which was approved by voters. The current law requires that two physicians agree on a patient's mental competence to make the decision for assisted suicide and confirmation that the patient has less than six months to live. If approved, the patient self-administers a drug cocktail designed to bring about a painless death.
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Under the existing Colorado law, individuals seeking medical aid in dying must make two separate requests, at least 15 days apart, before they can obtain a prescription. Senate Bill 24-068 seeks to significantly shorten this timeline to just 48 hours.
Also of concern, the bill expands the eligibility for medical aid in dying to non-residents of Colorado.
This provision has drawn criticism from many who argue that it opens the door for individuals from outside the state to take advantage of Colorado's law. The bill also allows advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to prescribe the drug cocktail, even though current restrictions limit this authority to physicians. While APRNs are already authorized to prescribe most drugs in Colorado, conservatives express concerns about the potential consequences of allowing them to participate in assisted suicides.
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Medical aid in dying is currently legal in nine other states and the District of Columbia, each with their own regulations and eligibility criteria. Some states restrict the practice to residents, while others, like Colorado, allow individuals from outside the state to receive life-ending prescriptions. Minnesota is currently considering a bill to authorize medical aid in dying this year.
According to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, in 2022, 316 individuals were prescribed drugs under Colorado's medical aid in dying law. Of those, 246 individuals chose to fill the prescriptions, and 243 individuals died.