<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"Vermont\u2019s House approved the Senate-passed version of the death-with-dignity bill Monday night, sending the piece of legislation for Gov. Peter Shumlin, a supporter, to sign.The Green Mountain State would become the third in the country allowing for a doctor to prescribe a lethal dose of medication to a terminally-ill patient who asks for it. If signed by Shumlin, the Vermont bill would be the only one passed by a Legislature.Voters passed end-of-life laws on the books in Oregon and Washington state.Lawmakers passed this latest version of the legislation by a 75-65 vote.Death-with-dignity first made an appearance this legislative session in February.The Oregon-style death-with-dignity law would go into effect immediately upon the governor\u2019s signature. It would expire in July 2016, when a stripped-down version, which leaves doctors to make up their own rules, would start.Opponents in the House on Monday tried to stop the bill\u2019s passage by way of four amendments. Two were voted on by roll call, another was withdrawn. A fourth did not come to a vote.\u201CI would ask the body to think again and wait and do it better,\u201D said Rep. Cynthia Browning, D-Arlington. \u201CYou need to be sure that you understand what might happen in the worst-case scenario.\u201DOpponents said the bill was bad policy and that it was rushed through the State House to make the deadline for this year\u2019s legislative session, which ends Tuesday.\u201CWhat we got was described as being on-the-fly,\u201D said Rep. Anne Donahue, R-Northfield. \u201CIt's really a jumble of what was ping-ponged back and forth between very radically different approaches.\u201D\u201CThere can never be a beautiful, dignified death using a handful of pills or a drug cocktail,\u201D said Rep. Carolyn Branagan, R-Georgia.Supporters said the final version passed Monday by the House was in line with what lawmakers had previously approved.Shumlin must sign the bill before it becomes law. It would take effect immediately. They add they expect about 20 Vermonters to ask for the lethal dose each year. Of those 20, supporters expect six to take the medication.Lawmakers who worked on the bill said the signing could happen in the next few weeks.Are you using the WPTZ app? If so, click here to watch the video."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.mynbc5.com/article/death-with-dignity-moves-on-to-shumlin-for-signature-1/3309216>