Imagine facing terminal cancer and being forced to live through unbearable pain every day. But instead of praying for your suffering to end soon, you can reclaim your final days – deciding when and how to die with dignity and peace, and to spare your family from unnecessary emotional pain as well.
For Dr. Barbara Morris, this was not a philosophical debate but a basic human right that she made her life’s mission to fight for. Her journey from a geriatrician to a whistleblower, and ultimately to becoming a strong voice advocating for Medical Aid In Dying (MAID) was nothing short of legendary. She faced heartbreak, personal risks and institutional barriers, in pursuit of a powerful question: How can we ensure that everyone has the right to a compassionate and dignified end of life?
Dr. Barbara Morris, Neil Mahoney, and Centura Health
Dr. Barbara Morris was a Colorado based physician specializing in geriatrics. In 2019, her patient, Neil Mahoney, was diagnosed with terminal gastrointestinal cancer, and suffering unbearable pain. He sought Dr. Morris’s assistance in assessing MAID, which was passed as Colorado’s End of Life Options Act (EOLA) in 2016, allowing terminally ill patients to seek MAID. For Neil, choosing MAID was not about giving up, but about taking control. He wanted agency over his own life, and to decide for himself when and how to live his final days with dignity, while sparing his family from unnecessary suffering. The problem was, Dr. Morris’s employer, Centura, a faith-based healthcare system, prohibited her from discussing MAID with Neil.
When faced with an impossible choice between following institutional rules or supporting her patient in his end of life choices, Dr. Morris’s decision was clear – she needed to honor Neil’s final wishes, because it was the right thing to do both as a doctor and as a fellow human. She filed a lawsuit against Centura, seeking clarity on whether a healthcare system had the authority to restrict a physician’s ability to participate in MAID. Five days later, she was fired, abruptly ending her professional relationships with Neil and hundreds of other patients.
Though Dr. Morris could no longer serve as Neil’s attending physician, she kept in contact with him and his families until the end. Ultimately, Neil was able to fulfill his final wishes and access MAID despite the obstacles. Neil’s journey had inspired Dr. Morris and set an example for others who face similar barriers in the future. While the legal case was long and stressful, Dr. Morris thought it was worth it in a way. It really shed some light on the potential conflicts between healthcare institutions and the rights of patients and healthcare providers. Though it would still be a long road ahead, this legal battle had set a foundation for future progress with persistent effort on Dr. Morris’s part.
Founding End of Life Options Colorado
Inspired by Neil’s courage and determination, Dr. Morris and a group of pioneers channeled their passion for end-of-life choice into advocacy and education. They founded End of Life Options Colorado, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of the ELOA among patients, families, and healthcare providers. The nonprofit’s mission is simple yet significant: to ensure everyone facing a terminal illness has access to accurate information, compassionate care and agency over their final days.
Mentoring Healthcare Colleagues
Dr. Morris quickly observed that the barrier to offering MAID was both practical and emotional for many healthcare providers. MAID was a time consuming process that involved lengthy evaluations, conversations and ongoing emotional resilience. Physicians already faced immense time pressures and were challenged in dedicating the necessary attention to MAID. To support that, Dr. Morris began coaching and mentoring clinicians on their first MAID cases. She found these interactions deeply rewarding, as she observed her colleagues gain confidence and clarity while ensuring patients receive compassionate care.
Over the years, Dr. Morris witnessed a cultural shift among healthcare providers toward MAID. What began as a taboo practice, shrouded in secrecy, had grown into a more accepted and transparent part of end-of-life care. Providers who once hesitated to associate with MAID were now listing their services publicly, thanks in part to Dr. Morris’s tireless advocacy.
ELOA Evolution and Further Improvement
The ELOA has evolved since its passage. Recently, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed amendments to shorten the waiting period from 14 to 7 days, and to allow advanced practice nurses with prescriptive authority to serve as attending or consulting clinicians. To outsiders these changes might seem minor, but to patients with rapidly progressing illnesses who do not have the luxury of time, this could make a life changing impact.
Looking into the future, Dr. Morris identifies further areas for improvements.
Allow non-resident patients access MAID in Colorado. To date, there are only 11 states that allow MAID, leaving the majority of the terminally ill patients without access to MAID. For these individuals, relocation to one of the eleven states (state residency is a prerequisite to access MAID in most of the 11 states) is rarely feasible, considering their health conditions and the seismic effort to uproot their entire lives and families. Dr. Morris has been advocating for removing the residency requirement in Colorado, emphasizing that compassionate and accessible end-of-life choices is a basic human right.
Combat systematic inequalities of MAID access. Another maybe not-so-surprising observation was that MAID participants skewed towards highly educated middle-to-upper class individuals. This was because this demographic group likely had better access to information about MAID, in-person medical consultation from their physicians, and more financial resources to take actions. It is important to call out the financial disparity, because Medicare and Medicaid do not cover MAID-related services due to federal restrictions. To make matters worse, the cost of medications has risen rapidly, causing MAID to be even more difficult to access. With this inequality top of mind, Dr. Morris and her nonprofit team have been working tirelessly to reach underserved communities, provide education to raise awareness, and explore ways to provide financial assistance. They are doing everything within their power to promote equal access regardless of socioeconomic status.
Navigating Ethical Concerns
As with any progress throughout history, there were always controversies and debates, and MAID is no different. In one such debate, the disability rights advocates were concerned that MAID could devalue the lives of people with disabilities. While their fears are understandable, Dr. Morris highlighted robust safeguards built into ELOA, which were designed to protect vulnerable populations. She also shared her personal experiences – both hers and her colleagues, where she had observed all such cases being handled with the utmost care, respect and integrity.
A Mission of Compassion
Reflecting upon her journey, Dr. Morris found her transformation to a non-profit leader unexpected yet fulfilling. She has embraced her role as an educator and advocate for end of life choices, and views it as her way to honor Neil and other patients’ courage. Looking into the future, Dr. Morris envisions a society where MAID is normalized, widely accepted, and seamlessly integrated into our healthcare system. Dr. Morris’s journey is a true embodiment of honoring the end of life care with compassion, and the fight for everyone’s right to die with dignity and grace.
Resources
Visit please https://endoflifeoptionscolorado.org/ to further explore Dr. Morris and her organization’s amazing contribution.
Visit Care Registries to further understand MAID (and VSED).
