The law was passed in Washington D.C in December 2016
The U.S. House of Representatives’ Oversight Committee voted to repeal a Washington D.C law that allows physicians to end the lives of terminally ill patients should they request it.
According to Reuters, “City leaders passed legislation in December that allows terminally ill patients to end their lives with a doctor’s help, but the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to overturn laws in the 68-square-mile (177-square-km) district.”
Jason Chaffetz, Head of the Oversight Committee who voted in favor of the overturn was quoted by Reuters as saying, “I worry that assisted suicide will create a marketplace for death. I think it’s fundamentally wrong.”
The committee voted 22 to 14 against the law but it still has to go to the House and the Senate and will require the president’s signature before it can be completely overturned.
Colorado also passed a similar law in November called the “Right to Die” law which allows terminally ill patients with less than six months to live to request assisted death.
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