This week, Governor Janet Mills signed LD613, an amendment to Maine’s Death with Dignity Act, into law! The amendment allows physicians to use their clinical discretion to waive up to 10 days of the 17-day waiting period for qualified patients.

This change will help qualified patients who are rapidly declining access the peaceful option of Death with Dignity. The amendment will take effect 90 days after the close of the legislative session.

The Maine Death with Dignity Act was first passed in 2019. Until this recent amendment, Maine had the longest mandatory waiting period of any of the 11 states with a Death with Dignity law. The updated legislation was introduced to better support terminally ill patients and honor their right to a peaceful, self-determined death.

We’re proud to support Maine Death with Dignity, whose unwavering advocacy was instrumental in passing this legislation. Their dedication and passionate efforts of advocates, patients, and families across the state made this victory possible.

“This amendment represents a critical change to the Maine Death with Dignity Act to ensure that qualified patients get the access they seek, regardless of their ability to survive the 17-day waiting period,” says Valerie Lovelace, Executive Director of Maine Death with Dignity.

Maine’s new amendment aligns with a growing national trend: states are shortening lengthy waiting periods to ensure terminally ill patients have timely access to medical aid in dying. In recent years:

  • 2019: Oregon amended its law to allow the 15-day waiting period to be waived for patients who are imminently dying.
  • 2021: California reduced its waiting period from 15 days to 48 hours.
  • 2022: Vermont eliminated the 48-hour waiting period before a physician can write a medical aid in dying prescription.
  • 2023: Hawaii shortened its waiting period from 20 days to 5 days.
  • 2023: Washington reduced its 15-day waiting period to 7 days.
  • 2024: Colorado reduced its waiting period from 15 to 7 days.

New Jersey has also introduced legislation multiple times in recent years to allow the 15-day waiting period to be waived under certain circumstances, but the amendment has not yet passed.

While 30 percent of people who do obtain the medication prescribed under these laws never take it, simply having access to this option offers profound peace of mind. Shorter waiting periods honor the autonomy of patients facing the end of life and respect their right to make deeply personal end-of-life decisions on their own terms.

These changes reflect a growing recognition that long waiting periods can hinder a peaceful, autonomous death.

We’re thrilled that Maine residents will now have improved access to the law and the compassionate care it provides.

We’re incredibly grateful to Governor Janet Mills for signing this bill into law so swiftly after it passed through the legislature. Her leadership affirms Maine’s commitment to dignity, choice, and freedom at the end of life.

As a 100% donor-funded organization, victories like this are only possible because of you. Your gift helps us continue supporting the vital work of local partners fighting to expand Death with Dignity for all terminally ill individuals across the country. Donate today.