New Jersey State Assembly passed the Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act with a 41-33 vote, followed by approval in the Senate with a 21-16 vote.
Governor Phil Murphy has stated he will sign the bill, making New Jersey the eighth state with legal physician-assisted suicide(PAS). Governor Murphy stated, “Allowing terminally ill and dying residents the dignity to make end-of-life decisions according to their own consciences is the right thing to do. I look forward to signing this legislation into law.”
The bill, sponsored by 17 Democratic Assembly members and Senators, passed mostly along party lines with four Republican Senators and no Republican Assembly members voting for passage.
The bill states that it “permits qualified terminally ill patient to self-administer medication to end life in humane and dignified manner.” The structure of the physician-assisted suicide will work similarly to the six other states and DC with legal PAS via legislation (Montana has legal PAS via court ruling and thus no PAS program). Patients are required to be 18 years old or older, have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less, and be capable of making medical decisions.
Matt Valliere, Executive Director of Patients Rights Action Fund, opposed the measure and stated, “New Jersey ought to be investing in better care and support at the end of life, not enshrining this dangerous public policy into law.”
The law is supposed to go into effect within four months after the Governor signs the bill.
(via Physician-Assisted Suicide to Be Legal in New Jersey - ProCon.org)
Source: procon.org
Republican Governor Chris Christie signed the bill into law on Aug. 19, 2013, prohibiting therapy intended to change gay minors’ sexual orientation.