New Jersey Residents Support Medical Aid-In-Dying Legislation by More Than a 2-1 Margin

(Trenton, NJ, Wednesday, September 26, 2018) – On Thursday, September 27, 2018 when the New Jersey Assembly returns to Trenton for the 1st of only 3 voting days before the year’s end, supporters of the “Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act” will meet in Trenton to demand that lawmakers bring the bill to the floor for a vote after six years of debate about this compassionate legislation.
  • Modeled after laws in 7 other states (CA, CO, MT, HI, OR, VT, and WA) and the District of Columbia, the legislation would allow mentally capable, terminally ill adults to have the option of obtaining prescription medication they can decide to take if their suffering becomes unbearable and die peacefully in their sleep.
  • No patient, doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional would have to participate in the law.
  • New Jersey residents support medical aid-in-dying legislation by more than a 2-1 margin (63% vs. 29%), according to the most recent state poll on the issue by Rutgers-Eagleton. This majority support included Protestants (73%), Catholics (64%) and other non-Protestant residents (59%).
  • State lawmakers have spent more than enough time debating the merits of this bill since it was first introduced in 2012. In 2016, it was approved by the Assembly Appropriations CommitteeGeneral Assembly, and Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. Only previous Gov. Chris Christie’s promised vetoof the bill discouraged the Senate from voting on it.
  • More delay will just result in more needless suffering for terminally ill New Jerseyans who will die if lawmakers kick the can down the road again.
  • Compassion & Choices improves care and expands options for the end of life, by working nationwide in state legislatures, Congress, courts, medical settings and communities to:
    • Empower people with information and tools, including our free consultation program, to receive healthcare that is consistent with their values and priorities as they approach the end of life.
    • Advance policies that allow people to make fully informed decisions about their healthcare, such as improving hospice and palliative care and ending unwanted medical treatment.
    • Authorize and implement medical aid in dying to allow mentally capable adults in their final weeks or months of a terminal disease to advance the time of death and end unbearable suffering.

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