• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC

Vermont Estate Planning Attorneys

Vermont: (802) 879-7133

Attend A Free Workshop
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Meet Our Team
    • What to Expect When Working with Us
  • Services
    • Estate Planning
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Medicaid Planning & Elder Law
    • Pet Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
    • Young Families Planning
  • Resources
    • Articles
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Burlington
      • Montpelier
      • Rutland
      • St. Johnsbury
      • White River Junction
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Elder Law
        • In-Home Elder Care
        • Medicaid
        • Planning for Long-Term Care
      • Estate Planning
        • Business Succession Planning
        • Estate and Gift Tax
        • Estate Planning for Blended Families
        • Estate Planning for Parents
        • FAQs for Families Without an Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Taxes on Inheritances in Vermont
      • Incapacity Planning
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Gift, Estate, and Inheritance Taxes
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • Philanthropy and Estate Planning
      • Pet Planning
      • Revocable Living Trust
      • Special Needs Planning
      • Trust Administration
      • Trusts
      • Wills
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Medicaid Resources
      • Medicaid Analysis Worksheet
      • Medicaid Guide
      • Vermont Medicaid
    • Newsletters
    • Presentations
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
    • SECURE Act
    • Top Estate Planning Techniques
  • Webinars/Seminars
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • BLOG
  • Contact
Home » How Well is Vermont’s End of Life Law Faring?

How Well is Vermont’s End of Life Law Faring?

August 9, 2013 by Stephen Unsworth

For many of us, we never expected that we’d face the reality that a parent or loved one had sought out ways to gracefully end their lives should they become so ill that there could be no recovery. In some states,it’s now legal to do so. Vermont’s End of Life law has been in place for awhile and we were wondering how well it was faring.

It’s a very difficult concept for many family members. There are spiritual or religious considerations and then there’s the human condition that keep the emotions on edge. Even when, in our heart of hearts, we know that Mom or Dad won’t recover, there’s a small part of us that says maybe they will. It’s just human nature. It’s natural and there’s nothing wrong with voicing that fear to your loved one’s physician.

Not an Easy Bill

It wasn’t an easy bill to get passed, which surprised no one, but the law is designed to give immunity to those in the medical field who help a terminal patient pass. It’s done with a lethal dose of medication; however, it’s not an easy process to go through. There’s also one more caveat: the law expires in 2016. The goal is to ensure physicians will define their own protocols for administering these final doses.

If you’re a terminal patient and are considering this as a way to pass, you owe it to yourself to understand the legal and financial dynamics in place. Your loved ones will naturally be focused on their grief and you can help ease the logistics by having a solid estate plan in place. This includes definitive documentation that you have made your own decisions about your death.

Vermont’s End of Life Law

The name of the law is the Patient Choice and Control at End of Life Act. It’s restrictive, make no mistake, but it serves a powerful purpose. As mentioned, it is the physicians who prescribe a lethal dose of medication to terminally ill patients. The law protects them from prosecution, but it also protects family, friends and other loved ones as well.

Doctors Have Option to Decline Patient Requests

A few more legalities include an opt-out feature. Doctors don’t have to participate in these decisions. Many cite personal reasons or their own religious beliefs and that’s fine – this isn’t a requirement, just an option for doctors. Not only that, but the law requires patients to wait 15 days after a verbal request is made. The second request must be written, with a witness present, and doctors must then wait 48 hours before administering the medication.

There are no specifics in Vermont’s end of life law that says a patient must have his legal and/or financial affairs in place ahead of time, but it’s simply smart to have those bases covered ahead of time. For most people who consider these drastic options, they have already prepared their wills and other legal documents. They have contacted their elder law attorneys and know that there are no loose ends from that perspective.

No one wants to make those types of decisions, but many residents we’ve spoken with agree that it’s a comfort knowing they can ease that burden should the time ever come.

Have questions about these or other estate planning laws? Our team of experienced lawyers can help. We have decades of experience and our clients have come to rely on our office for fair, ethical and honest guidance.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Stephen Unsworth
Stephen Unsworth
Stephen A. Unsworth is admitted to practice in both Vermont and Maine, and has more than 30 years of experience in estate planning and business law. His mission is to provide quality estate planning services, including assistance with Living Trusts, Wills, Medicaid Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, Powers of Attorney, Special Needs Planning, and Family Limited Partnerships.
Stephen Unsworth
Latest posts by Stephen Unsworth (see all)
  • Does My 401(k) Account Count for Medicaid Eligibility? - October 20, 2022
  • Senior Care Options - October 18, 2022
  • Is an Oral Will Valid in Vermont? - October 13, 2022

Filed Under: Incapacity Planning Tagged With: Estate Planning, Elder Law, vermont's end of life laws, terminal patients, Patient Choice and Control at End of Life Act

Other Articles You May Find Useful

incapacity planning
Prepare for Incapacity to Prevent a Guardianship
guardianship
Is There a Way to Prevent a Guardianship?
power of attorney
Why Is a Power of Attorney Part of an Estate Plan?
advance directives for health care
Don’t Overlook Advance Directives for Health Care
senior
Census Report: Burlington Senior Population Exceeds National Average
power of attorney
How Is a Power of Attorney Used in Estate Planning?

Primary Sidebar

Elder Law and Medicaid Planning Attorneys

Unsworth LaPlante, PLC

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHEET

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Blog Subscription

Sign up to Unsworth LaPlante's estate planning blog to receive all the latest news and updates.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Essex Junction, VT

26 Railroad Ave
Essex Junction, VT 05452
United States (US)
Phone: (802) 879-7133
Fax: (802) 879-0408

Map

unsworth_sidbr_map

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Footer

footer-logo
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this Vermont Attorneys & Lawyers / Law Firm website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.