Recent attention has been drawn to Colorado's assisted suicide program as patient advocates express concern over the prescription of lethal drugs to people diagnosed with eating disorders. Reports have surfaced involving individuals classified with "terminal anorexia," a term that has sparked controversy due to its broad interpretation and potential risks.
Matt Vallière, executive director of the Patient Rights Action Fund and the Institute for Patient Rights, highlighted a case in the Denver Post involving Jane Allen, who had battled anorexia for much of her life. Diagnosed with terminal anorexia in 2018, Allen was informed by her doctor that assisted suicide was an option. Feeling coerced, she entered hospice care at an assisted living facility, where she was prescribed lethal medication. Her life took a positive turn when her father secured a guardianship order that led to the destruction of these drugs. After overcoming the medicated haze, Allen moved to Oregon, found employment, adopted a puppy, and reconnected with loved ones.
Live Action reported that Colorado issued a record 510 assisted suicide prescriptions to individuals with eating disorders last year. These numbers point to a concerning pattern where vulnerable patients are presented with lethal medication instead of therapeutic or mental health support. Another patient, Mary Gossman, was allegedly told by a Denver eating disorder clinic that nothing more could be done for her, making her eligible for assisted suicide under state law. Gossman is now part of a lawsuit challenging the program, claiming it discriminates against people with disabilities by prioritizing death over treatment.
Assisted suicide is legal in twelve states and the District of Columbia. Critics argue that Colorado's law permits doctors to authorize lethal prescriptions for patients with disabilities, potentially bypassing more suitable mental health interventions. Vallière and other advocates suggest that the policy may infringe upon the Americans with Disabilities Act, as the state funds lethal drugs but not palliative or therapeutic care.
Medical professionals have also expressed concerns about the methods used in assisted suicide, with reports of severe pain and prolonged death experiences. These concerns, along with the ethical debate of deeming psychiatric conditions as terminal, have intensified the call for increased oversight and the evaluation of the laws' impact on the doctor-patient relationship, especially for those with mental health challenges.
As legal actions and public scrutiny intensify, there is a growing warning that current practices could endanger patients and set a precedent for expanding assisted suicide in ways that could be harmful to disabled and mentally ill individuals.
