New Jersey Assembly, Senate Pass Aid in Dying Bill After Nearly 7 Years of Debate
New
Jerseyans with terminal or life-shortening diseases and Compassion &
Choices praised the state Assembly and Senate for passing the Aid in Dying for
the Terminally Ill Act (S1072/A1504) after nearly seven years of debate on the
issue and urged Governor Phil Murphy to promptly sign it into law. The Assembly
approved the bill by a 41 to 33 vote and Senate by a 21 to 16 vote.
This bill would allow mentally
capable, terminally ill adults with 6 months or less to live to have the option
to get a doctor’s prescription for medication they can decide to take if their
suffering becomes unbearable and die peacefully in their sleep. If Governor
Murphy signs the bill or does not act on it within 45 days, the bill
becomes the law and would take
effect on the first day of the 4th month after enactment.
“I am eternally grateful to the bill
author, Assemblyman John Burzichelli, for tirelessly championing this
legislation for nearly seven years and for every member of the legislature who
voted for it,” said bill supporter Susan Boyce, a Rumson resident who has a
terminal lung disease that has reduced her lung function to 29 percent (read
and watch her story at bit.ly/SusanBoyceOpedVideo).
“I urge Governor Murphy not to wait 45 days and to sign this bill promptly, so
I have this option to ensure I don’t have to suffer needlessly at the end of my
life.”
Medical aid in dying has been
successfully implemented for a combined 40 years in seven states, Cali...
Source: blog.bioethics.net - Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD, PhD Tags: Health Care syndicated Source Type: blogs
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