Assisted death in the United States

The Arc New York - One of the Leaders in Supporting New Yorkers with Disabilities - Supports Medical Aid in Dying

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 2, 2020
Death, Suicide, Palliative care, Assisted suicide, Euthanasia, Compassion & Choices, Assisted death in the United States

ALBANY, N.Y., March 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Arc New York, one of the leading organizations serving New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, supports medical aid in dying, reports Compassion & Choices.

Key Points: 
  • ALBANY, N.Y., March 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Arc New York, one of the leading organizations serving New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, supports medical aid in dying, reports Compassion & Choices.
  • "I have long admired the work done by The Arc New York supporting tens of thousands of New Yorkers with disabilities.
  • But my admiration has only grown for their inspired leadership and demonstration of compassion in supporting the Medical Aid in Dying Act.
  • The New York Academy of Family Physicians , which represents more than 6,000 physicians and medical students across the state, strongly supports medical aid in dying, after having opposed it.

Five Years after Brittany Maynard's Death, Her Advocacy for Medical Aid in Dying Lives On

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Articles, Applied ethics, Death, Disability rights, Euthanasia, Palliative care, Assisted suicide, Hippocrates, Hippocratic Oath, Assisted death in the United States, Compassion & Choices, Suffering

The campaign generated global digital-media attention, drawing more than six million unique viewers from nearly 240 countries to Compassion & Choices website.

Key Points: 
  • The campaign generated global digital-media attention, drawing more than six million unique viewers from nearly 240 countries to Compassion & Choices website.
  • "Brittany and I then had that conversation, essentially asking, 'Is this something that you can do?'
  • "Her story at the end of the day is not about death and dying, it's actually about life and living.
  • "I believe prescribing medical aid in dying to peacefully end unbearable suffering is consistent with the Hippocratic Oath."

Compassion & Choices Praises D.C. Health's Progress in Implementing Medical Aid-in-Dying Act

Retrieved on: 
Friday, August 2, 2019
Death, Articles, Palliative care, Applied ethics, Compassion & Choices, Assisted suicide, Assisted death in the United States, Compassion, Barbara Coombs Lee, Act 39

Eight states currently allow medical aid in dying: California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Montana (via state Supreme Court ruling), New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont.

Key Points: 
  • Eight states currently allow medical aid in dying: California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Montana (via state Supreme Court ruling), New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont.
  • Collectively, these 10 jurisdictions represent more than 1/5 of the nation's population (22%) and have more than 40 years of experience successfully implementing this medical practice.
  • Last September, Compassion & Choices launched a public service announcement campaign to educate D.C. health care providers and residents about the law .
  • Compassion & Choices is the nation's oldest, largest and most active nonprofit working to improve care, expand options and empower everyone to chart their end-of-life journey.

Group Releases Education Video, Online Tools about NJ Medical Aid-in-Dying Law That Takes Effect Today

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Death, Articles, Palliative care, Regions of the United States, Euthanasia, Compassion & Choices, Assisted suicide, Assisted death in the United States, Compassion, NEW JERSEY, Terminal illness

TRENTON, N.J., Aug. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Compassion & Choices released a new video today to educate New Jerseyans about the Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act that takes effect starting today.

Key Points: 
  • TRENTON, N.J., Aug. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Compassion & Choices released a new video today to educate New Jerseyans about the Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act that takes effect starting today.
  • The 30-second educational video urges New Jerseyans to discuss their end-of-life care options with their doctors and is being promoted on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2330322593901893 ) and Twitter ( twitter.com/CompAndChoices/status/1156912464107331584 ).
  • "We know from experience implementing medical aid-in-dying laws in other states that our work to help educate healthcare providers and patients has only just begun.
  • "We know our supporters are deeply appreciative of their responsiveness to their ability to use this law."

World Series of Poker Player Uses Calif. Medical Aid-in-Dying Law to End His Suffering from Rare Cancer

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 26, 2019
Death, Palliative care, Suicide, Compassion & Choices, Assisted suicide, Assisted death in the United States, Death, Palliative care, Suicide, Compassion & Choices, Assisted suicide, Assisted death in the United States

After his diagnosis, Kevin dedicated much of his remaining life to raising awareness about sarcoma and medical aid in dying via a blog , Twitter account , YouTube videos and playing semi-professional poker wearing sarcoma education gear .

Key Points: 
  • After his diagnosis, Kevin dedicated much of his remaining life to raising awareness about sarcoma and medical aid in dying via a blog , Twitter account , YouTube videos and playing semi-professional poker wearing sarcoma education gear .
  • Kevin originally planned to use the new New Jersey medical aid-in-dying law that takes effect on Aug. 1, but his doctors told him in May that he probably wouldn't live long enough to use it.
  • Unfortunately, he " busted the tournament " (ran out of poker chips) in the final level of day 2.
  • Compassion & Choices is the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit organization working to improve and expand health care options at the end of life, with 450,000 volunteers nationwide.

NY Doctors Support Medical Aid in Dying 56-26 Percent; Support NY Medical Aid in Dying Bill 67-20 Percent

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 28, 2019
Death, Medical websites, Health, Articles, Health websites, Disability rights, Euthanasia, Assisted death in the United States, Diane Savino, WebMD, Assisted suicide, Medscape

The survey conducted by WebMD/Medscape shows that by a 56-26 percent margin, New York doctors support medical aid in dying as an end-of-life care option.

Key Points: 
  • The survey conducted by WebMD/Medscape shows that by a 56-26 percent margin, New York doctors support medical aid in dying as an end-of-life care option.
  • By an even larger 67-20 percent margin, New York doctors support proposed legislation to authorize medical aid in dying.
  • I'm glad that New York doctors support patient-centered choices and support medical aid in dying."
  • Senator Diane Savino (D-Staten Island), prime sponsor or the bill, said: "Medical aid in dying is overwhelmingly supported by New Yorkers.

Election Analysis Shows Medical Aid in Dying Is Politically Safe Issue to Run On, Reports Compassion & Choices

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Death, Suicide, Assisted suicide, Euthanasia, Palliative care, Assisted death in the United States, Compassion & Choices

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Contrary to conventional political wisdom, it is politically safe to sponsor legislation to authorize medical aid in dying as an end-of-life care option and run for re-election, concludes a detailed state-by-state election analysis by Compassion & Choices.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Contrary to conventional political wisdom, it is politically safe to sponsor legislation to authorize medical aid in dying as an end-of-life care option and run for re-election, concludes a detailed state-by-state election analysis by Compassion & Choices.
  • In 2017 and 2018, 127 state legislators served as primary sponsors of medical aid-in-dying bills introduced in 28 states, according to the report.
  • Four new jurisdictions have authorized medical aid in dying in just the last three years: California in 2015, Colorado in 2016, Washington, D.C., in 2017 and Hawai'i in 2018.
  • The full report, "2017-2018 Elections & Medical Aid in Dying: A Politically Safe Issue to Run On," including a detailed, state-by-state analysis and quotes by other gubernatorial candidates who publicly support this issue is available at bit.ly/AidInDyingElectionAnalysis .

End-of-Life Care Group Praises Report by NJ Gov. Advisory Council on End-of-Life Care

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Death, Health, Palliative care, Caregiving, Hospice, Compassion & Choices, Assisted death in the United States, End-of-life care, Terminal illness, Assisted suicide, Ira Byock, Draft:Alive Hospice

TRENTON, N.J., Nov. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Compassion & Choices today praised a new report by the New Jersey Governor's Advisory Council on End-of-Life Care , noting that the Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act ( A1504 / S1072 ) would help achieve the council's recommendations to improve end-of-life care for state residents.

Key Points: 
  • TRENTON, N.J., Nov. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Compassion & Choices today praised a new report by the New Jersey Governor's Advisory Council on End-of-Life Care , noting that the Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act ( A1504 / S1072 ) would help achieve the council's recommendations to improve end-of-life care for state residents.
  • "New Jersey can benefit from laws and policies that contain provisions aimed at improving advance care planning, palliative care, hospice care and end-of-life care," the report concludes (see "Recommendation 2; Background" on page 18).
  • "In fact, this legislation requires doctors to advise any terminally ill adult who requests medical aid in dying about all end-of-life care options, including hospice and palliative care.
  • Collectively, these eight jurisdictions represent nearly 1 out of 5 Americans (19%) and have 40 years of combined experience safely using this end-of-life care option.

Day of the Dead Ceremony Honors Dead Advocates for Medical Aid in Dying Act

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Death, Assisted suicide, Suicide, Palliative care, Barbara Coombs Lee, Compassion & Choices, Disability rights, Euthanasia, Assisted death in the United States, Savino, Coomb

Polling shows 77% of state voters support medical aid in dying .

Key Points: 
  • Polling shows 77% of state voters support medical aid in dying .
  • "This year several strong advocates, gravely ill, generously devoted precious energy and time to authorization of medical aid in dying in New York," said Barbara Coombs Lee , president of Compassion & Choices.
  • For the last three years, Compassion & Choices has been working with Assemblymembers Amy Paulin, Senator Diane Savino and Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act.
  • "Miguelitowas not a sinner for wanting to die peacefully, as some religious opponents of medical aid in dying would dare to suggest," she said.

End-of-Life Care Group Reaches Key Benchmarks in Helping Health Care Providers, Communities Statewide Prepare for Medical Aid-in-Dying Law

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Death, Health, Palliative care, Caregiving, Assisted suicide, Compassion & Choices, Assisted death in the United States, Hospice, Terminal illness, End-of-life care

Signed into law on April 5 by Governor David Ige , the Our Care, Our Choice Act authorizes medical aid in dying as an end-of-life care option to end unbearable suffering.

Key Points: 
  • Signed into law on April 5 by Governor David Ige , the Our Care, Our Choice Act authorizes medical aid in dying as an end-of-life care option to end unbearable suffering.
  • Compassion & Choices' Hawai'i Access Campaign is a volunteer-led effort to educate the community, healthcare professionals, health systems and hospices to ensure terminally ill adults in Hawai'i have access to the new law.
  • To date:
    The Campaign has provided hospital and hospice systems statewide with sample policy templates that can be customized to each system.
  • In addition, Compassion & Choices is working with the Hawaii Department of Health advisory group to provide in-person education for physicians and other providers.