On February 18, 2021, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released its annual report on the End-of-Life Options Act which confirms that hundreds of patients have benefitted from this compassionate option.
In 2016, Compassion & Choices and the Compassion & Choices Action Network made the strategic decision to support a ballot initiative in Colorado. Compassion & Choices lent its policy know-how and deep understanding of aid-in-dying laws to work with petitioners to draft the proposed statute, while the Compassion & Choices Action Network provided important financial resources to foster an effective on-the-ground advocacy effort.
Bolstered by funds provided by Compassion & Choices Action Network – Colorado (CCAN-CO), the Yes on Colorado End-of-Life Options committee organized the citizen-led campaign for Proposition 106 after two narrowly failed attempts by the Colorado Legislature to pass the measure, in spite of multiple public polls showing overwhelming support.
In December 2016, as the result of a ballot initiative, Proposition 106, the Colorado End-of-Life Options Act went into effect. The voters of Colorado supported the ballot measure by a 2-1 margin, giving Proposition 106 more “Yes” votes than any ballot measure in state history. Compassion & Choices and the Compassion & Choices Action Network inspired a citizen-led ballot initiative and provided financial and technical support to the Yes on Colorado End-of-Life Options campaign. Read more about the effort to pass the Colorado measure in a blog by Kim Callinan here.
Following on Compassion & Choices’ efforts to help pass the measure, we immediately launched a bilingual access campaign to ensure that Coloradans understand how the law works and their care providers have supportive policies in place. Volunteers provide public outreach events at public libraries, community centers, recreation centers, health fairs, senior centers and other social events. Medical Provider Advocates also host medical outreach events, such as in-service training and healthcare provider education, encouraging health systems and hospice to adopt policies supportive of patient choice. Compassion & Choices currently has Action Teams covering nearly the entire state (Denver, South Metro, Northern Colorado, Southern Colorado, Western Colorado) helping with implementation, education and protection of the state’s law. Action Teams are an important component of our campaign. They lead the outreach to local officials and help train local volunteers. Get involved with an Action Team.
Mail contributions directly to:
Compassion & Choices Gift Processing Center
PO Box 485
Etna, NH 03750
