Maine’s legislature approved the Death with Dignity Act this week, sending the bill to Governor Janet Mills on Wednesday for her signature.
If enacted, the bill would add a new care option for individuals who are terminally ill and have fewer than six months to live. State residents would be able to request and voluntarily self-administer medication to end their own life in a humane and dignified manner. The bill outlines the necessary consent procedures and waiting periods, and it also requires the declaration of at least two witnesses.