On May 20, 2013, Act 39, Vermont Patient Choice and Control at the End of Life Act went into effect, when Governor Shumlin signed it into law. The law is currently in effect giving terminally ill, mentally capable Vermont residents with six months or less to live the option to request a prescription medication to end unbearable suffering. Patient Choices Vermont leads Vermont-based efforts to implement the law.

In 2021, lawmakers in Vermont introduced a new bill, S. 74, designed to make improvements to the current law and allow more eligible patients to access medical aid in dying while still protecting medically vulnerable populations. Read the summary of S. 74. In January 2022, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee favorably advanced the bill to the Senate floor, where it passed with a majority of votes on January 25, 2022. The bill is now being considered by the House, The House Human Services Committee passed S.74 by a vote of 10-1 on April 7, 2022, and the House passed it by a voice vote. S. 74 was signed into law on April 27, 2022.

Tools and Resources

For Patients Access the Vermont Advance Directive  

End-of-Life Planning Use our step-by-step guide to chart your journey.  

Los recursos en Español Los recursos en Español.  

COVID-19 Toolkit Get answers to your questions about COVID-19 and end of life care.  

Resources for Providers Find resources tailored to the needs of healthcare providers.