The Vermont Senate voted Tuesday afternoon to advance legislation that allows terminally ill patients to end their lives with prescription drugs. A number of senators who were undecided on the issue made up their minds to support it over the weekend.

State senators gave preliminary support today to a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to end their lives with a prescription drug.

The Vermont Senate Tuesday turns to end-of-life choices. As state senators debate a bill that would give patients with less than six months to live the choice to end their lives with doctor-prescribed drugs, Vermont has emerged as a key battleground in the national debate over the issue.

Lawmakers are reconsidering the philosophical and religious exemption to the childhood immunization law in the face of a rise in pertussis (whooping cough) cases. They're also set to discuss the contentious end-of-life bill next week. VPR's Bob Kinzel talks with Peter Biello about the week in legislative news.

We hear the debate over end-of-life rights after a week of hearings at the State House, VPR's John Dillon provides analysis on wind power issues and we listen back to the voices in the week's news.

Witnesses ranging from former Gov. Madeleine Kunin to Vermont's current health commissioner, Dr. Harry Chen, are scheduled to testify to a state Senate committee about legislation that would allow physicians to help terminally ill patients end their own lives.

The Vermont Senate has rejected legislation that would allow terminally ill people to get a physician's help in ending their own lives.

In a surprise and controversial move, the Senate Health and Welfare committee has voted in favor of the so called Death with Dignity bill. But the bill still faces many procedural hurdles before making it to the Senate floor for debate.

One of the most contentious bills at the Statehouse right now would allow terminally ill patients to get medication from a doctor to end their lives, but it may not make it to the full Senate floor.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is considering a bill that would allow patients to get medication to end their lives. The so-called "death with dignity" bill has been controversial in the Statehouse, and its prospects for passage remain uncertain.

A bill that would allow terminally ill patients to get medication to end their own lives faces an uncertain prospect in the Vermont Senate. Two key Democrats are opposed to the measure, and they say lawmakers have more important priorities.

Former House Speaker Richard Mallary was well known as a politician who stuck to his convictions. Mallary was a strong supporter of "death with dignity" legislation. In the past year, he also suffered from incurable cancer. Mallary's family says he followed his convictions on this issue when he took his own life last fall.

Vermont is once again facing a debate over whether terminally ill patients should have the right to end their own lives with help from a doctor.  Supporters of legislation being considered in the House call it "Death with Dignity", while opponents call it "physician-assisted suicide."

Supporters call it "Death With Dignity" and opponents call it "Physician-Assisted Suicide." For both sides, the debate over whether physicians should be able to help people die is emotional and contentious.

A group advocating for a so-called death with dignity law is welcoming a report to the Vermont Legislature. The Vermont Legislative Council's report is based on the experience of Oregon and the Netherlands, which have differing laws that allow versions of assisted suicide or euthanasia.

Legislative leaders say it's unlikely that a bill to legalize assisted suicide will pass this year. The chairmen of both the House and Senate Health and Welfare Committees are leery of the legislation. But proponents say the issue deserves attention in the Statehouse.

The Vermont Medical Society is beginning a series of forums this week to give doctors a chance to discuss physician assisted suicide. This fall, the society will consider changes to its current policy on assisted suicide legislation. Lawmakers plan to consider a Death with Dignity bill when they convene in January.

The Vermont Medical Society released a vote on Wednesday indicating that most of the state's medical doctors oppose new laws for or against physician-assisted suicide. Still, advocates of assisted suicide had success with a separate resolution that calls for neutrality and allows doctors to lobby for legislation.

Commentator Edith Hunter has been thinking a lot lately about end-of-life issues.

The debate over Physician Assisted Suicide, or Death with Dignity. Once again the legislature is considering a bill to legalize doctors helping patients to die. Steve Zind talks with two doctors—Dr. John Fogarty and Dr. Diana Barnard—who have differing views on the idea.

The ongoing debate surrounding end-of-life legislation has prompted commentator Caleb Daniloff to recall his late father-in-law -- the way he lived and the way he died.

Recent headlines have reminded commentator Madeleine Kunin that many end-of-life issues remain unresolved - and problematic.

Vermont's disabled community is strongly divided over what is known as the "Death with Dignity" bill.

A controversial bill being considered by a House committee of the Vermont Legislature would enable terminally ill patients to end their lives with the help of a physician.

Legislators are looking at the proposed Death With Dignity Act. Dr. Diana Barnard is a practicing physician in Middlebury who hopes they vote yes.'