Euthanasia bill heads for final vote

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A bill that would grant the terminally ill medical assistance in taking their own lives passed its final committee in the state Senate, opening the way for a final Senate vote.

House Bill 2739, called the “Our Care, Our Choice Act,” allows mentally competent adults who have been determined to have six months or less to live to obtain a prescription for medication to end their lives, should the pain and ignominy of slowly dying be intolerable.

After the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 4-1 to advance the bill Friday, a final Senate vote on the bill will take place next week.

If the Senate votes to pass the bill, and if the House and Senate have no disagreements on how the bill has been amended, the bill will go to Gov. David Ige for final consideration.