Summer is officially in full swing, and while many legislative sessions have wrapped, the Death with Dignity momentum continues. From coast to coast, states are making major strides with their medical aid in dying bills, with an official amendment signing and significant progress continuing to move us forward.
Here’s the latest:
- Massachusetts’ Death with Dignity bill, the End of Life Options Act (H2505) has cleared a key legislative hurdle. The Joint Committee on Public Health voted to advance the bill, and it now moves to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.
Massachusetts residents, please take a moment today to thank those in the Joint Committee on Public Health who voted YES on H2505! A simple “thank you” goes a long way, especially when legislators take meaningful action to support end of life options.
- Governor Janet Mills has officially signed LD613, an amendment to Maine’s Death with Dignity Act, into law! The amendment allows physicians to use their clinical discretion to waive up to 10 days of the 17-day waiting period for qualified terminally ill patients.
This change will help qualified patients who are rapidly declining access the peaceful option of Death with Dignity. The amendment will take effect 90 days after the close of the legislative session.
We’re proud to support Maine Death with Dignity, whose unwavering advocacy was instrumental in passing this legislation. Their dedication and passionate efforts of advocates, patients, and families across the state made this victory possible.
- The amendment to California’s Death with Dignity bill, the End of Life Option Act (SB403), that would eliminate the sunset clause and make the law permanent, received a 13-2 in favor do pass recommendation in the Assembly Health Committee.
SB403 now has a public hearing in the Assembly Judiciary Committee at 8:30am PST on July 15. Tune in to watch the hearing here!
Your dedication powers the progress we’ve made in the Death with Dignity movement. This year brought meaningful gains, and it’s your support that made them possible.
As legislative sessions wrap up across the country, we’re staying vigilant, keeping you connected to the latest developments in medical aid in dying. We’ve built real momentum together, but the fight to expand and protect end-of-life options is far from over.
Your advocacy directly contributes to the movement. Make a donation today to strengthen our legal and policy work nationwide, so terminally ill patients all across the United States can access Death with Dignity.
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