Republican lawmakers fail to block law legalizing assisted suicide in D.C.

A Washington D.C. law allowing physicians to assist in ending the lives of terminally ill patients who wish to die went into effect last Saturday after the U.S. Congress failed to block the measure.

The Death with Dignity Act was signed into law by Mayor Muriel E. Bowser last December after it was approved by the D.C. Council by a vote of 11–2, The Washington Times reported.

Lawmakers had the opportunity to prevent the law from taking effect under the federal Home Rule Act, which required a disapproval resolution passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the president within 30 legislative days to block the measure.

In order to overturn the law, the House and the Senate had to vote on the resolution by Feb. 17. On Feb. 13, The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform voted to send a disapproval resolution to the House floor, but it failed to receive a vote.

Congress can still negate the measure by cutting off its funding through the appropriations process.

Jessica Grennan, National Director of Political Affairs and Advocacy for Compassion & Choices, which spearheaded the efforts to pass the measure, called on D.C. residents to take advantage of the law before that happens.

"Doctors may now prescribe appropriate medications under the law without fear of prosecution," she said. "We urge anyone who is eligible and considering this option to make the request of their doctor right away, since we cannot predict whether or when this right may be stripped away by Congress," she added.

Washington D.C. is now the sixth area in the U.S. to legalize assisted suicide, following California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington state. The procedure remains technically illegal in Montana, but doctors in the state can use a defense of consent if prosecuted.

Opponents of the law have argued that it would open up a wide door for abuse of the elderly and people with disabilities.

Margaret Dore, president of Choice is an Illusion, said in a statement last month that the legislation allows a patient's heir, who could potentially benefit from the death, to participate in requesting the lethal drugs. She also noted that it does not require a doctor or unbiased witnesses to be present when the patient takes the drugs.

Melissa Ortiz, Founder and Principal of Able Americans, expressed disappointment that Congress failed to block the law.

"I'm incredibly sad that a pro-life Congress chose not to act on this issue," she told Life Site News.

"I am very proud of the House OGR committee that tried valiantly to move this measure to the floor. I am grateful to Senator Lankford for his work in the Senate to try to gather the votes to pass this once it reached the Senate. More could've been done and wasn't," she went on to say.