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.

Supporters of a bill making it legal to end your life with a doctor's help are taking their cause on the road.

Legislation has been introduced at the Statehouse that will allow doctors to prescribe life ending medications to terminally ill patients. Supporters refer to it as "the Death with Dignity" bill, while opponents call it "physician assisted suicide."

Supporters of legislation allowing terminally ill patients to end their own lives plan to gather at the Vermont Statehouse to unveil legislation that would make Vermont the third state to allow the practice.

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

The Vermont House has rejected legislation that would allow terminally ill patients to request drugs from their doctor to hasten an individual's death.

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.

Legislation that would allow doctors to help terminally ill patients end their lives stalled in the last session of the legislature.

Yesterday we heard from a Middlebury doctor who supports the 'Death With Dignity' legislation. Today Mitch Wertlieb speaks with Dr. Robert Orr of the Vermont Alliance for Ethical Health Care who is opposed to the legislation.

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

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.

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

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.