Lawsuit targets Vermont’s death with dignity law

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – A Vermont physician has filed a federal lawsuit difficult the state’s almost decade-old demise with dignity legislation. Backed by a nationwide advocacy group, she asserts the legislation is stopping her from offering end-of-life medication to out-of-staters and violates the Structure.

Vermont in 2013 was the primary state within the nation to enact medical aid-in-dying laws. It’s referred to as the Affected person Alternative and Management at Finish of Life Act, or Act 39. However physicians are solely permitted to prescribe terminally unwell sufferers with life-ending treatment in the event that they’re residents of Vermont.

Dr. Diana Barnard, one of many two plaintiffs within the case, is a palliative and hospice care specialist in Middlebury, and her follow treats each Vermonters and sufferers from northern New York. For 13 years, she has helped terminally unwell sufferers navigate struggling in life and decency in demise.

However Barnard says she is pressured to routinely flip down remedy for out-of-state sufferers, particularly these on the opposite aspect of the lake.

“I’m at present hamstrung by the residency requirement, and it’s actually simply reached some extent the place I now not really feel snug saying, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t assist.’ I really feel that sufferers are determined and I have to step up and do my half to extend entry,” she mentioned.

In accordance with the newest numbers from the well being division, 34 Vermont sufferers have been prescribed life-ending medication between 2017 and 2019 and 28 of them used it to finish their life.

Compassion & Decisions, the advocacy group that filed the lawsuit on Barnard’s behalf, studies one in 5 Individuals have entry to medical assist in dying. A terminally unwell Connecticut girl, the opposite plaintiff within the lawsuit, is among the many 4 in 5 Individuals who don’t.

Christina Guessferd will look additional into her story tonight on the Channel 3 Information at 11.

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