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Patient Rights & Freedoms Justice Project

Your Decisions, Honored and Fulfilled

Ensuring that fully-informed patients are the decision-makers in their own end-of-life care; that their decisions and plans are implemented

Advance Directives and DNRs

  • Hallada v. Lakeland Regional Medical Center: Addressed the failure of healthcare providers to honor a patient's Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, resulting in unwanted medical interventions that prolonged the patient's life contrary to her expressed wishes.

  • Almerico et al v Denney et al: Challenged and overturned an Idaho law that invalidated the advance directives of pregnant individuals, securing the right to have end-of-life wishes honored regardless of pregnancy status.

  • Vernon v. Kobach: Currently challenging Kansas’s state constitutional law that invalidates the advance directives of pregnant individuals.

Proxy Protection

  • In the Matter of Romero: Successfully affirmed the legal authority of a spouse to make healthcare decisions for an incapacitated partner in the absence of an advance directive, reinforcing the importance of surrogate decision-making rights.
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If you or someone you love is struggling to get the care you want and deserve, we are here to help. Call us today, or use our legal intake form.

Note: We are not a general legal services provider. We focus on legal issues specifically related to end-of-life care and patient autonomy.

Our Team

Our experienced team of litigators work closely with our pro bono counsel to enforce and expand the rights of terminally ill people. Through our work in the courts, we fight to ensure that everyone can receive high-quality end-of-life care that is in line with their values, wishes and beliefs. In every case we are involved in, Compassion & Choices’ dedicated legal team prioritizes and seeks to advance patient-directed care.

Latest News

Magistrate Judge Recommends Dismissal of Challenge to Colorado’s Medical Aid-in-Dying Law for Lack of Standing
April 3, 2026

United States Magistrate Judge Scott Varholak issued a Recommendation on Tuesday in a lawsuit challenging Colorado’s medical aid-in-dying law, United Spinal v. Colorado, that the Plaintiffs’ claims be dismissed and the pending Motion to Intervene be denied without prejudice. The Magistrate Judge concluded that the Plaintiffs lack standing because none can demonstrate an actual, concrete,…

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It's Not Assisted Suicide

Question 1 of 14

Your information entered here will be included on the final copy of your Dementia Advance Directive (addendum).

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Yo estoy completando este documento porque quiero que mi(s) persona designada (s) en la toma de decisiones, médicos y equipo de atención médica, familia, cuidadores y seres queridos conozcan mis deseos respecto al tipo de cuidados que deseo si vivo con demencia.

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Your information entered here will be included on the final copy of your Dementia Advance Directive (addendum).

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