The Colorado End of Life Options Act authorizes medical aid in dying (MAID). Medical aid in dying is a safe and trusted medical practice in which a terminally ill, mentally capable adult with a prognosis of six months or less to live may request from his or her doctor a prescription for medication which they can choose to self-ingest to bring about a peaceful death. The law went into effect early January 2017.
To be eligible for medical aid in dying under Colorado’s law, a person must be:
- An adult
- Terminally ill
- Given a prognosis of six months or less to live
- Mentally capable of making their own healthcare decisions
A person must also be:
- A resident of Colorado
- Acting voluntarily
- Making an informed decision that includes being given information about all other end-of-life options
- Informed that they may choose to obtain the aid-in-dying prescription but not take it
- Capable of self-administering and ingesting the aid-in-dying drug
In addition to the requirements listed above, certain steps must be followed in order for a person to qualify for aid-in-dying medication. The average length of time between requesting and receiving a prescription is between 15 days to three months and requires at least two doctor visits. Therefore, it is important for individuals to talk to their doctors early to see whether the doctor is willing to write a prescription. We encourage everyone to begin this conversation now.
More Resources
Colorado Introduction to Medical Aid in Dying
Colorado End of Life Options Act Information for State Residents Factsheet
Colorado End of Life Options Act Frequently Asked Questions Factsheet
How to Talk to Your Doctor in Colorado
How to Interview a Hospice in Colorado
A Patient’s Guide to Personal Advocacy
Colorado Request for Medical Aid-in-Dying Medication
Government sponsored website that shows and compares the ratings of hospice agencies – giving you a snapshot of the quality of care of each hospice
Our thanks to Compassion & Choices for providing this information. For the full range of end-of-life options, visit the Compassion & Choices End of-Life-Information Center.
