The death of Oscar-nominated actress Barbara Barrie has renewed attention on so-called "death with dignity" laws, as a growing number of states expand access to medical aid in dying for terminally ill patients.
The "Breaking Away" star, who was suffering from terminal cancer, chose a medically assisted death "in accordance with the New York State Medical Aid in Dying law, of which she was a proponent and advocate," her agent, Gary Gersh, told USA TODAY.
New York was one of the latest states to pass a so-called right-to-die law, which allows medical professionals to assist terminally ill patients in ending their lives with medication. It joined 13 other states and Washington, DC, with similar legislation on the books.
An additional 16 states had
some form of aid-in-dying bill up for consideration in 2026, according to legislation tracking by the advocacy group Death with Dignity. These laws, while sometimes controversial, have become more popular in the last decade, with six of the 13 above-mentioned states having enacted theirs between 2017 and 2026.
Here's what to know about medical aid in dying laws by state.
What is medical aid in dying?
Medical aid in dying is a legally regulated medical practice in which terminally ill patients can choose to end their lives with the assistance of medication. It is governed by state legislation and allows doctors to work with patients already nearing the end of life to determine when they want to die.
You may hear it referred to as "right to die," or "death with dignity," either in legislation or from advocates like the Death with Dignity National Center, who say it is a "fundamental freedom of choice." It is sometimes colloquially called "assisted suicide," though proponents have called that title inaccurate.
Critics of the practice, like the disability rights group Not Dead Yet, say it is a form of discrimination that promotes the idea "that it is better to be dead than disabled."
Medical aid in dying is tightly regulated and patients have to go through an extensive process to qualify, as outlined by the Academy of Aid-in-Dying Medicine. While this process can vary by state, the fundamental prerequisites include being 18 or older and a resident of a state that allows it; having a terminal illness that is expected to lead to death within six months; having the mental capacity to independently request aid and make your own medical decisions; and, importantly, the ability to self-administer the drugs.
The last point is also the major distinction between euthanasia and medical aid in dying. Legally, euthanasia refers to the act of a physician administering the fatal dose of a medication; in medically assisted dying, the physician gives the patient the lethal medicine, but the patient administers it themselves.
Patients then have to submit multiple written and verbal requests, undergo evaluations and assessments and adhere to a mandatory waiting period.
States that allow medical aid in dying
Currently, 13 states plus Washington, DC, have laws that allow medical aid in dying. In 2026, another 16 states had proposed bills. Of that, only three of which are still under consideration. The others did not advance before the legislative session ended.
States that already have laws allowing medical assistance in dying include:
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Hawai’i
- Illinois
- Maine
- Montana
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon
- Vermont
- Washington
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Medical aid in dying is legal in these states. See the map
