Medical Aid in Dying: New Mexico’s Elizabeth Whitefield End-of-Life Options Act

Rob Swartz, JD
Emeritus Professor of Law
University of New Mexico

Jonathan Bolton, MD
Director, Institute of Ethics
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (HSC)

Abstract: This year, the New Mexico legislature enacted the Mexico’s Elizabeth Whitefield End-of-Life Options Act that creates a new legal right for New Mexicans: adults who are diagnosed with a terminal illness, and who have a prognosis of less than six months to live and are mentally and physically capable, may request, obtain, and take medication to end their lives. In light of this new law, the HSC Institute of Ethics is hosting a series of four discussions of medical aid in dying. This first discussion will focus on the law itself, the impetus for it, and how it conceptualizes the issue.

Contact rkreidldear@salud.umn.edu to receive information to join by Zoom.

Sponsored by the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Institute of Ethics