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Vermont Passes Aid-in-Dying Bill

The Vermont House voted Monday evening to make the state the first in the U.S. to legislate allowing physicians to provide lethal medication to terminally ill patients who request it.

The Vermont House voted Monday evening to make the state the first in the U.S. to legislate allowing physicians to provide lethal medication to terminally ill patients who request it. Three other states have a similar law, but those were achieved through referendums or court orders.

By a 75-65 roll call vote, the House concurred with a Senate version of the bill that largely copies a law passed by Oregon voters in 1997 for three years and then shifts to a system with less government monitoring. The bill is expected to be signed by Gov. Peter Shumlin, who has said he strongly supports it.

Brian Peteritas is a GOVERNING contributor.
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