Physician-Assisted Death Proponents Begin New Legislative Push

Backers of controversial physician-assisted death legislation worked to build public support at events across Colorado Wednesday. The measure would allow terminally ill adults to self-administer medication to end their lives.

A similar bill failed during this year’s legislative session but is expected to be reintroduced next year. Patti James, a retired nurse who has stage three lung cancer, shared her story at an event in Denver.

“I spend a little bit of time thinking about my own death and for what I would want for myself. And so I’m very hopeful that this bill goes through,” James said.

The legislation faces fierce opposition from a number of groups including the Catholic Church. People with disabilities also fought last year’s bill, fearing it could have been misused.