{"id":9011,"date":"2016-11-10T16:04:00","date_gmt":"2016-11-10T16:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/2016\/11\/10\/after-contentious-fight-colorado-voters-approve-aid-in-dying-measure\/"},"modified":"2016-11-10T16:04:00","modified_gmt":"2016-11-10T16:04:00","slug":"after-contentious-fight-colorado-voters-approve-aid-in-dying-measure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/after-contentious-fight-colorado-voters-approve-aid-in-dying-measure\/","title":{"rendered":"After Contentious Fight, Colorado Voters Approve Aid-In-Dying Measure"},"content":{"rendered":"

By John Daley<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

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The Rev. Josephine Falls handed out stickers to voters while accepting ballots inside the Denver Elections Division offices on Tuesday. Marc Piscotty\/Getty Images<\/strong> hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Marc Piscotty\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Colorado has joined the handful of states that allow terminally ill patients to end their lives with medicine prescribed by a doctor.<\/p>\n

Voters passed Proposition 106<\/a> by a 65 percent to 35 percent margin.<\/p>\n

The fight pitted those who think the terminally ill should have the choice to end their lives if they choose to do so against those who think it’s morally wrong and that people might be pressured into ending their lives.<\/p>\n

On election night, advocates held a jubilant celebration in a small room on the same floor of a downtown hotel as the state’s Democrats, who were decidedly downbeat about the presidential election results.<\/p>\n

“I think it’s terrific,” said Matt Larson<\/a>, who was diagnosed with brain cancer and featured in ads saying he’d like the option should his condition someday become terminal. “If you opposed it, you don’t have to use it. That’s the beauty of this law,” Larson said. “And for the people who do support it, it will bring a tremendous amount of peace and comfort to many people in Colorado.”<\/p>\n

Another proponent, Dr. Charles Hamlin, a retired surgeon who has kept his license, said: “I intend to help when and where I can. It’s a comfort zone, rather than an exit strategy.”<\/p>\n

The proposition is modeled after a law passed in Oregon<\/a> two decades ago.<\/p>\n

Under the Colorado measure, two doctors must agree a terminally ill adult has six months or less to live and is mentally competent. The person would self-administer the drug.<\/p>\n

“My parents are aging and they agree with it wholeheartedly,” said Karen McInnes, a Denver resident who voted for the proposition. “If I ever end up in that stage, I would want it for myself.”<\/p>\n

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