Oregon and Washington are no longer the only two states to allow terminally ill people to end their own lives.
Montanans learned over the weekend that a state judge there has ruled dying patients have a right to physician assisted suicide.
The ruling took effect immediately, although Montana has no regulations in place to govern the practice.
Attorney Kathryn Tucker — who brought the case for right to die groups — expects Montana to look to Oregon and Washington for guidance. But she says Montana will have more freedom.
Kathryn Tucker: "Let's just take the example of the waiting period. In Oregon there's a minimum 15-day waiting period. That provision very possibly would not survive constitutional scrutiny because it would be unduly burdensome."
Montana's Attorney General — Mike McGrath — is considering whether to appeal the decision.
The man who brought the case — Bob Baxter — did not live to see the ruling. He died Friday, the day the decision was issued.
