Recently, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the state constitution does not protect the right for physicians to prescribe a lethal dose of medication to terminally ill, mentally competent adults. However, the court left open the possibility of the state Legislature exploring the issue.
A statewide poll conducted last spring found almost 80 percent of residents believe a mentally sound adult with an incurable terminal illness should be allowed to get help from a physician to die, according to the report.
