Status of assisted suicide law initiatives in other states

Some other states where assisted suicide proposals have been discussed:

CALIFORNIA — A bill to allow doctor-assisted suicide comes up for a vote in March in the California Assembly's Judiciary Committee. Short of votes and facing a looming deadline, backers of the bill had suspended their efforts to win legislative approval of the measure last June.

VERMONT — Backers of assisted suicide tried unsuccessfully to bring the proposed law to a vote in the Vermont Legislature last year. However, a similar death with dignity bill has been filed this year and is awaiting action.

HAWAII — In 2002, Hawaii came within three votes of becoming the second state to allow doctor-assisted suicide. Similar bills have stalled in the Legislature since the 2002 measure was defeated+.

MAINE — Maine voters narrowly rejected a proposal in November 2000 to allow physician-assisted suicide. Similar proposals were rejected by the Maine Legislature four times before supporters launched a citizen initiative drive that forced the proposal to the ballot.

MICHIGAN — Legislators enacted a law in 1998 making physician-assisted suicide a felony. Voters later that year soundly defeated a ballot measure that would have made assisted suicide legal under certain guidelines and in effect overturn the Legislature's ban.

WASHINGTON STATE — Voters in 1991 rejected a proposal to allow doctor-assisted suicide. The measure would have overturned an existing ban on the practice.