The D.C. Death with Dignity Act authorizes medical aid in dying. 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 in February 2017.
To be eligible for medical aid in dying under Washington, D.C.’s law, a person must be:
A person must also be:
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.
For D.C. residents:
For more information on the full range of end-of-life options visit the Compassion & Choices End of-Life-Information Center.
Compassion & Choices is the nation’s oldest, largest and most active nonprofit organization committed to improving care and expanding choice for the end of life.
For more information on the full range of end-of-life options visit the Compassion & Choices end-of-life planning page.