Colorado lawmakers take another look at right-to-die legislation

It’s round two for legislation in the statehouse that would allow terminally ill Coloradans the right to end their own lives.

A right-to-die bill was killed in a state Sentate committee 3-2 along party lines Wednesday, but a similar version is in front of a House committee Thursday night.

Colorado Springs Senator Michael Merrifield wrote the Senate bill.

This bill is personal for Merrifield who watched his father suffer from prostate cancer.

Ever since he became a lawmaker more than a decade ago, he’s fought for a Death With Dignity Act.

“My father died a painful, excruciating death that was terrible for us to watch as my mother and I sat by her bedside,” Merrifield said. “He was a very strong-willed outdoorsman, he loved to fish, he loved to hunt. Many of us are baby boomers in Colorado and I hope this will be an option in the near future.”

Five states — Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont and most recently California have a right-to-die law.