Vermont’s Patient Choice Act
Medical aid in dying is the practice in which a terminally ill, mentally competent adult patient voluntarily requests and receives a prescription medication from a physician that they can self-administer to die peacefully. This allows patients to end their lives on their own terms. Medical aid in dying is authorized in 11 jurisdictions with regulations varying by jurisdiction to ensure that the process is carried out ethically and safely.
Vermont’s Patient Choice and Control at End of Life Act authorizes the practice of medical aid in dying, allowing a terminally ill, mentally capable adult with six months or less to live to request from their doctor a prescription for medication that the patient can decide to self-ingest to die peacefully if their suffering becomes unbearable.
It was put into effect in May, 2013 by legislative action. In April, 2023 an amendment was added to remove the residency requirement for utilizing the law.
Eligibility
- Be 18 years or older
- Have been diagnosed with a terminal illness
- Have a prognosis of six months or less to live
- Be mentally capable of making their own healthcare decisions
- Capable of self-ingesting the aid-in-dying medication
- Making an informed decision and voluntary request
