I met Tom Byrne when I was in Durango earlier this year while visiting Fort Lewis College, where I was speaking about the proposed Colorado aid-in-dying bill. Despite his illness, Tom was upbeat, and we enjoyed a good conversation. He held out hope that the legislative hearing would be successful but realized he probably wouldn’t live long enough to use the law to peacefully end his life through a doctor-prescribed medication. Tom considered testifying at the hearing that was to take place the next week, but his deteriorating condition would make the trip to the Capitol not an easy one. Like Tom, there are three others I met during the past year, all of whom have since died without the option they had hoped for.

Although 68 percent of Coloradans believe that a competent, terminally ill adult should have a say in how he will die, our lawmakers aren’t there yet. They continue to focus on what might happen, discounting what has happened where aid in dying is authorized – in states like Oregon, where its Death with Dignity law has been in effect for more than 17 years without a single documented case of abuse. How many more Coloradans must suffer before our lawmakers will finally allow the dying to make their own choices about what is arguably the most personal and intimate decision any of us can make.

Roland Halpern, Compassion & Choices

Denver