D.C. lawmakers considering death with dignity legislation

Lawmakers in D.C. are considering legislation that gives the terminally ill the choice to willingly end their lives. The notion of death with dignity is highly controversial. D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh is going to propose legislation in the District to give terminally ill patients with six months to live the option to end their life with a well-chosen prescription. The bill is drafted from existing legislation in Oregon. Diagnosed with astrocytoma, Oregonian Brittany Maynard sparked a national debate on death with dignity last year. She created a YouTube video describing her decision to end her life. Cheh’s bill would require those who are seeking lethal medication to undergo a series of psychological tests to evaluate their mental competency and diagnosis. Cheh expects that the legislative process will extend well into 2015 before the bill is passed. State Senator Ron Young (D-Maryland) announced plans to introduce similar legislation this year.