New Mexico judge affirms right to 'aid in dying'

[Geee]

La Times:

Aja Riggs, 50, thought a lot about dying after she was diagnosed with uterine cancer.

 

She endured surgery in October 2011, then underwent aggressive chemotherapy that made her feel as if her skin was burning. She was constantly tired. Then doctors found a second tumor, which they treated with two different types of radiation.

 

"It was a pretty darn rough winter, actually," said Riggs of Santa Fe, N.M. "I thought to myself, I don't know if I want to go all the way to the end with a death from cancer." She considered "what I needed to do if I would like to perhaps have a more peaceful and gentle death."

 

Now, a New Mexico judge has ruled that terminally ill patients like Riggs have the right to "aid in dying" under the state constitution. "Such deaths are not considered 'suicide' under New Mexico's assisted suicide statute," ruled Judge Nan G. Nash of the 2nd District Court in Albuquerque last week.

[Casino67]

Going to be an interesting dilemma for OCare. Will it be covered? Will it be a viable option offered to everyone? Will it be a mandatory cost-saving option for the terminally ill? Will a death panel make the final determination? Will a Democrat make the final decision?