Politics & Government

5 states that allow doctor-assisted suicide

This undated photo provided by the Maynard family shows Brittany Maynard. The terminally ill California woman moved to Portland, Ore., to take advantage of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, which was established in the 1990s. Maynard wants to pass a similar law in California and has turned to advocacy in her final days.
This undated photo provided by the Maynard family shows Brittany Maynard. The terminally ill California woman moved to Portland, Ore., to take advantage of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, which was established in the 1990s. Maynard wants to pass a similar law in California and has turned to advocacy in her final days. AP

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Monday allowing doctors to prescribe their dying patients lethal drugs.

The nationally watched bill emerged after months of debate at the Capitol about the right of terminally ill people to end their lives.

READ: Jerry Brown signs doctor-assisted death bill

Here is a list of the five states with legal physician-assisted suicide (all require a minimum age of 18 and two oral requests to physicians at least 15 days apart with one written, except for Montana which has no legal protocol).

  • California (passed Oct. 5, 2015)
  • Montana (passed Dec. 31, 2009)
  • Oregon (passed Nov. 8, 1994)
  • Vermont (passed May 20, 2013)
  • Washington (passed Nov. 4, 2008).

The New Mexico Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the issue later this month.

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