Vermont Business Magazine Patient Choices Vermont (PCV) applauds the work of Dr. Diana Barnard, in collaboration with the national organization Compassion & Choices, to challenge the residency requirement contained in Vermont's Act 39 in Federal Court.
Act 39, adopted in May 2013, enables terminally ill Vermonters who are capable of making their own medical decisions, the option to request and receive medication they can use to bring about a peaceful death; if and when they so choose. Act 39, like similar laws in other states across the country, makes end-of-life choice available only to residents of Vermont.
PCV agrees with the plaintiffs in the lawsuit who state that this restriction is unconstitutional, and that it improperly restricts people from crossing state lines to receive the medical services they seek. Medical aid in dying is the only medical service that is subject to such a restriction.
A recent lawsuit settlement in Oregon created an important precedent for deleting the residency requirement in Vermont. The Oregon settlement requires officials there to 1) issue directives halting enforcement of the unconstitutional residency provision, and 2) initiate a legislative request to permanently remove the residency language from the law.
PCV has worked since 2013 to educate and expand the network of Vermont's medical providers who support patients throughout the Act 39 process. The PCV Helpline and website resources will be augmented to assist out-of-state residents once they can legally access medical aid in dying in Vermont.
About PCV
Patient Choices Vermont (PCV) is a non-profit organization focused on educating Vermonters about end-of-life choice and medical aid in dying. PatientChoices.org
(August 25, 2022 - Shelburne, VT) Patient Choices Vermont
