A bill to allow terminally ill patients to take their own lives was introduced at the state capitol Tuesday. Supporters say they want to give patients an option to die with dignity.
House Bill 1135 [.pdf] would let people who have less than six months to live take a prescription to die.
Representative Lois Court [D-Denver] is sponsoring the bill, and says two physicians must approve and the patient must be mentally competent and able to take the medication unassisted.
“These people are not suicidal,” says Court. “Their disease is gong to kill them. They want to choose the what, the where, the when, the with whom.”
Opponents, including the American Medical Association, say such legislation is a slippery slope and puts physicians in a tough spot.
No Republican lawmakers are on board yet.
