Washington DC has become the 7th jurisdiction in the United States to permit assisted suicide after a last-minute challenge to legislation failed. Despite a 22-14 vote by members of the House Oversight Committee to overturn the Death with Dignity Act under existing legislation allowing for such action within a specified time period, Congress did not subsequently call a vote on the measure – the final necessary step – meaning that assisted suicide passed into law. Washington DC now joins the states of California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Montana in legislating for assisted suicide. Pro-life groups have lamented the Act’s passage despite control of Congress by the Republican party, normally more well disposed to life issues.