Medical aid in dying was authorized in Montana when the state Supreme Court found in 2009 that “[The] Rights of the Terminally Ill Act clearly provides that terminally ill patients are entitled to autonomous end-of-life decisions.” Compassion & Choices litigated this case.
On February 21, HB 637 was introduced to codify medical aid in dying in Montana. The bill was heard on Wednesday, February 26 at 7 am MT in the House Judiciary Committee, but failed to advance. This was the first bill introduced to codify medical aid in dying since 2011. We’re grateful to Representatives Darling, Strand, Griffith, Cunningham, Tilleman, Carter, Cohenour, Howell, Nikolakakos, Thane, Marler, and Lynch for introducing this compassionate legislation to try to change the conversation about medical aid in dying in Helena.
The Montana House voted 42-58 against SB 136, the bill that would have criminalized medical aid in dying, and stripped away this compassionate right in Montana on April 9, 2025. Medical aid in dying remains legal and accessible in the Big Sky state.
