Thursday, March 30, 2023
To Die on Her Own Terms, a Connecticut Woman Turns to Vermont
Connecticut is not one of the ten states that have passed legislation to allow medical assistance in death. In response, Bridgeport resident Lynda Bluestein sought treatment elsewhere by filing suit in Vermont to take advantage of the local law. In response to Bluestein’s lawsuit, legislators consider making the practice more broadly available.
Bluestein was diagnosed with late-stage fallopian tube cancer. While undergoing chemotherapy, she decided that if the treatment stopped working, she would turn to Vermont’s law that allows certain people to seek a lethal dose of medication to speed up death. The law is currently limited to Vermont residents.
While Bluestein is prepared to move to Vermont if necessary, this month, the state waived residency requirements for her as part of a settlement from the suit she filed arguing the restriction on residency was unconstitutional.
Vermont lawmakers are now considering scrapping the residency requirement to make the practice more broadly available.
For more information see Lola Fadulu “To Die on Her Own Terms, a Connecticut Woman Turns to Vermont” New York Times, March 29, 2023.
Special thanks to Lewis Saret (Attorney, Washington, D.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/trusts_estates_prof/2023/03/to-die-on-her-own-terms-a-connecticut-woman-turns-to-vermont.html
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