ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Legislature kicked off debate Thursday on whether the state should join the list of those that allow physician-assisted suicide. Ten states and the District of Columbia already allow some form of physician-assisted suicide, while proponents are planning fresh pushes to pass it this year in several other states. Patients would have to have the mental capacity to make their own health care decisions and provide informed consent, so those with dementia would not qualify. “Suicide is not health care. Current law already gives people the right to make legally binding end-of-care health care directives, the right to hospice and palliative care, and the right to refuse care, she said.

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Persons: Mike Freiberg, Nancy Unde, Corcoran, ” Unde, I’m, Freiberg, John Hoffman, Champlin, “, ”, Chris Massoglia, Blaine, ” Nancy Utoft, Utoft, Maysoon Khan Organizations: PAUL, The Minnesota Legislature, Democratic, District of Columbia, Supporters, Senate, Americans United, Life, Minnesota Alliance, Ethical Healthcare, Associated Press Locations: The, Golden Valley, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, . Oregon, Vermont, New York, Connecticut, Albany , New York