Many people have strong beliefs about whether a person should have the right to die when they choose—to end a person’s own perceived pain and suffering, especially when they are terminally ill. These beliefs are often rooted in religion, morals, ethics, law (government-made and natural), and spirituality. Depending on a person’s beliefs or point of view, the issue and related laws may also be referred to as death with dignity, assisted suicide, aid in dying, physician assisted suicide, euthanasia, end of life options, and patient choice and control at the end of life.

Currently eight states and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) have laws (statutes) that permit persons to choose when to end their lives under certain circumstances. These states include (1) California, (2) Colorado, (3) Hawaii, (4) Maine, (5) New Jersey, (6) Oregon, (7) Vermont, and (8) Washington. And although the state of Montana does not have such a statute its supreme court has ruled that nothing in the state’s law prohibits a physician from honoring a terminally ill but mentally competent patient’s request to prescribe medication to expedite the patient’s death. In states without such laws a physician or other person’s act of assisting a person with suicide is generally subject to criminal prosecution for murder or other criminal charges.

In Maine, the Death with Dignity Act allows terminally ill patients to end their lives through the voluntary self-administration of prescribed medications. To qualify, patients must be adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live, and they must be deemed mentally competent to make the decision. The process requires two verbal requests and one written request for life-ending medication, with waiting periods and opportunities for the patient to rescind the request. The law also includes safeguards to ensure informed decision-making and to prevent coercion or undue influence. It is important for individuals considering this option to consult with an attorney to understand the full legal implications and to ensure compliance with all procedural requirements of the Act.