Advocates propose three changes to Vermont's Aid in Dying law
Bill expected to be discussed in Senate committee in coming weeks
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Updated: 6:55 PM EDT Apr 7, 2021
Bill expected to be discussed in Senate committee in coming weeks
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Updated: 6:55 PM EDT Apr 7, 2021
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ADVOCATES ARE NOW HOPING PROPOSED CHANGES. CAN GIVE PEOPLE WHO WANT IT. MORE ACCESS. BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. BETSY WALKERMAN... KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT ACT 39... OTHERWISE KNOWN AS VERMONT'S AID IN DYING LAW. DURING THE TIME OF ITS PASSAGE IN 2013... IT DREW EMOTIONAL DEBATE ON BOTH SIDES. SINCE THEN, OFFICIALS SAY AT LEAST 86 VERMONTERS HAVE QUALIFIED TO USE THE LAW... WHICH ALLOWS PEOPLE WHO ARE TERMINALLY-ILL TO BE ABLE TO GET A LETHAL DOSE OF SELF- ADMINISTERED MEDICATION PRESCRIBED BY A DOCTOR. BUT RECENTLY, SOME SHORTFALLS HAVE COME TO LIGHT. WALKERMAN HEADS THE NONPROFIT PATIENT CHOICES VERMONT... WHICH CON rNECTS PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE LAW WITH RESOURCES. SHE NOTICED SOME OF THE COMPLICATIONS... WHEN DEE ALLEN, A FORMER STATEHOUSE CLERK, WAS TRYING TO USE THE LAW LATE LAST YEAR. DIAGNOSED WITH A FATAL NEUROLOGICAL CO NDITION...HER HEALTH WAS DECLINING QUICKLY.