Barbara Coombs Lee

Barbara Coombs Lee is an American nurse, physician assistant, and attorney who has been a prominent advocate for end-of-life care and medical aid in dying. She served as the President of Compassion & Choices from 2005 to 2019, an organization that advocates for terminally ill patients' rights to self-determination at the end of life.

Early Life and Education

Barbara Coombs Lee was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She completed her undergraduate studies in nursing at Boston College and later earned a Master's degree in Nursing from Yale University. She also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon.

Career

Coombs Lee began her career in the medical field as a nurse and physician assistant, working in various settings including emergency medicine, intensive care, and primary care. She later transitioned into law, focusing on healthcare law and policy.

In the 1990s, Coombs Lee served as a Senior Executive for Kaiser Permanente, where she was responsible for managing patient services and nursing operations. She also served as a healthcare policy advisor to the Governor of Oregon.

In 1994, Coombs Lee co-authored the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, which was the first law in the United States to allow terminally ill adults to request and receive prescription medication to hasten their death. She has since become a leading advocate for similar laws in other states and countries.

As President of Compassion & Choices, Coombs Lee led the organization's efforts to improve care and expand choice at the end of life. Under her leadership, the organization successfully advocated for the passage of medical aid in dying laws in several states, including California, Colorado, and Hawaii.

Recognition

Coombs Lee's work in end-of-life care has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 2017, she was named one of the 50 most influential people in healthcare by Modern Healthcare magazine.

See Also

• Compassion & Choices
• Oregon Death with Dignity Act
• Medical aid in dying

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