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Maine became the eighth state in the US to legalize physician-assisted suicide after Democratic governor Janet Mills signed the bill on Wednesday.
The House of States passed the bill with a single vote, 73-72, on Monday, and the Senate narrowly approved it Tuesday, as both houses were under the control of the Democrats.
The new law, known as the Death With Dignity Act, has been repeatedly proposed in Maine, but failed at a statewide vote and seven times in Congress. He defines "terminal illness" as an incurable disease that will likely cause the death of a person within six months.
THE SUICIDE MAINE BILL IS AVAILABLE TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE; WOULD BE 8TH STATE TO LEGALIZE THE OPTION IN CASE OF TERMINAL DISEASE
Maine Governor Janet Mills on Wednesday signed a bill to make her the eighth state to allow terminally ill people to end their lives with prescription drugs. (AP Photo / Marina Villeneuve)
Physicians will need to obtain a second medical opinion and make requests at least twice verbally and once in writing by patients before they can administer lethal doses of end-of-life drugs. Patients would also be screened for depression or other conditions that may affect their judgment in deciding their fate.
"The possibility for a healthy-minded person facing impending death to avoid further suffering is considered by some to be a mere act of personal freedom, a decision with which the government should not be allowed to go. ingest, "said Ms. Mills in a statement Wednesday justifying her decision to sign the bill. in the law.
"Public policies of assisted suicide encourage people who are already struggling to access health care – the poor, the terminally ill, the disabled, the elderly and those living in remote areas – are much more vulnerable to abuse, coercion and violence. Matt Valliere, executive director of the Patients Rights Action Fund, told Fox News on Thursday.
The law protects against mistreatment of patients and the bad practices of doctors by criminalizing forcing someone to seek help for suicide or falsifying a life-threatening medication request.
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California, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, New Jersey and Washington, DC, are applying similar laws regarding medical assistance to suicide in their state, according to the National Center Death With Dignity and the Political Fund Death With Dignity.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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