Medical aid in dying in the state of Colorado: Perspectives, data, and lessons learned in the first years of a uniquely centralized program

Medical aid in dying in the state of Colorado: Perspectives, data, and lessons learned in the first years of a uniquely centralized program
Journal of Palliative Medicine; Melanie Mandell, Katie Sue Van Valkenburg, Skye O’Neil, Genie E. Roosevelt, Kerri Mason; 4/25
In 2016, Colorado voters approved Proposition 106, “Access to Medical Aid in Dying,” which amended Colorado statutes to include the Colorado End-of-life Options Act. In 2018, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, an urban, county safety-net hospital established a program to provide comprehensive medical aid in dying care via a centralized clinic with a dedicated team including a medical director, social worker, and a network of volunteer consultants. As the program has developed and matured, it has grown exponentially. This is due to its ease of accessibility, statewide educational efforts, and the relatively low cost and need-based, free services it provides. In six and a half years, our centralized program assisted over 650 Colorado patients in their quest for accessing medical aid in dying care, providing a wide continuum of services from initial intake and counseling, visits, and financial aid to specific grief counseling for loved ones. We believe our centralized system may function as a model for other hospitals considering the need to improve aid in dying access and care.