Winter 2021 - Community Spotlight
Winter 2021 - Community Spotlight
Colorado End of Life Options Act
Colorado End of Life Options Act – For Your Information
Colorado End of Life Options Act
The Colorado End of Life Options Act, also referred to as Access to Medical Aid in Dying or MAID, was approved by Colorado voters in 2016. The Act allows for an eligible terminally ill individual (e.g. a prognosis of six months or less to live) the ability to request and self-administer medical aid-in-dying medication in order to voluntarily end his/her life. The Act authorizes a terminally ill individual’s attending physician, under certain conditions, to prescribe medical aid-in-dying medication to a terminally ill individual. The Act also creates criminal penalties for tampering with a person’s request for medical aid-in-dying medication or knowingly coercing a person with a terminal illness to request the medication.
Some FAQs about the Act:*
Who is eligible for Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)?
To be eligible for MAID under Colorado’s law, an individual must be:
- An adult resident of Colorado
- Terminally ill with a prognosis of six months or less to live
- Mentally capable of making their own health-care decisions
- Acting voluntarily
- Making an informed decision, which includes being given information about all other end-of-life options
- Informed that s/he may choose to obtain the aid-in-dying medication, but not take it
- Capable of self-administering and ingesting the aid-in-dying medication
How does one access this option?*
- The individual must consult with their attending physician, i.e. the physician who has primary responsibility for the care of the terminally ill individual and the treatment of the individual’s terminal illness, and another physician who will give a consulting opinion for their terminal illness. Both physicians must agree that the individual is eligible to use the Colorado End-of-Life Option Act. One physician prescribes the medication, and the other physician gives a consulting opinion. If either physician is unable to determine if the individual has mental capacity in making the request, a mental health professional (psychiatrist or psychologist) must evaluate the individual and ensure that they are capable of making their own healthcare decisions.
Where does one fill the prescription for the medical aid-in-dying medication:
- One must locate a participating compounding pharmacy as the medication requires special preparation.
How long does the process take to request and obtain the aid-in-dying medication?
- The process to request and obtain aid-in-dying medication can be a lengthy one (and may not be successful) if you do not have a supportive healthcare team. The average length of time is between 15 days to three months and requires at least two doctor visits. Therefore, it is very important for individuals who may want to access the law to talk to their doctors early.
What cause of death is listed on the death certificates of individuals who have accessed MAID?
- The underlying illness should be listed as the cause of death. The law specifies that a death resulting from self-administering aid-in-dying medication is not suicide.
Does accessing MAID affect a person’s will or insurance?
- Accessing medical aid in dying does not adversely affect a person’s will or insurance. The law specifically mandates that wills, insurance, contracts and annuities are not affected if a qualified individual shortens their dying process by ingesting aid-in-dying medication.
*The above responses are summarized from the following websites:
What is the cost?
- In our experience, the cost for the medical aid-in-dying medication in Colorado is approximately $400.
We would be remiss if we didn’t inform you that the process for obtaining a prescription for the medical aid-in-dying medication in Colorado can be lengthy and difficult, particularly if your attending physician and hospital or hospice does not participate (they are not required to). Things have to be done in order. The time between each step can be lengthy. Reach out to Compassion & Choices Colorado for more information and assistance.
The Colorado End-of-Life Collaborative has end-of-life doulas available to work with those seeking care and support with MAID.
Other Resources for Information:
Colorado Secretary of State - Article 48
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment - Medical Aid in Dying
Colorado End of Life Options Act
