Oregon Ends Residency Requirement for MAID
Oregon will no longer be enforcing the residency requirement for its medical aid in dying (MAID) law, and will initiate removal of the residency language from the law. This opens the door for individuals from other states to seek MAID in Oregon without having to establish residency in the state.
This settlement was in response to a federal lawsuit alleging that the residency requirement of Oregon's MAID law violated the U.S. Constitution's right to equal treatment. The lawsuit was brought forth by a physician in Oregon who was represented by our friends at Compassion & Choices. More information can be
found here.
This settlement will likely serve as precedent for advocates in other states to press for their state's MAID residency requirement to be dropped. New York's proposed bill, the Medical Aid in Dying Act,
A. 4321/S.6471, does not include a residency requirement. For all other medical procedures, treatment, or care, a patient does not have to be a resident of NY, so there is no justification for having a residency requirement only for medical aid in dying.