Oregon Public Broadcasting

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.