Compassion Legal: The End-of-Life Justice Center at Compassion & Choices, spoke out forcefully Thursday after a group of plaintiffs — led by the anti-medical-aid-in-dying group Institute for Patients’ Rights — sued Gov. Kathy Hochul’s and Gov. JB Pritzker’s administrations in an effort to block implementation of the medical aid-in-dying laws in New York and Illinois.
“Compassion Legal is taking a stand to protect the rights and dignity of people facing terminal illness,” said Veronica Darling, Director of Litigation with Compassion Legal. “We are fighting to ensure the Medical Aid in Dying Act in New York and the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act (also known as ‘Deb’s Law’) in Illinois are implemented as scheduled, without delay.“
“That means August 5 in New York and September 12 in Illinois,” she emphasized.
“Each law authorizing medical aid in dying states clearly and unequivocally that disability alone does not automatically qualify or disqualify someone for access to this healthcare option,” Darling stated. “These laws are not about discrimination, they are about compassion, dignity, and respecting the healthcare choices of terminally ill adults when it matters most.”
The plaintiffs’ claim that medical aid in dying is discriminatory is not only unfounded, it undermines the very principles of equality and autonomy. The New York and Illinois laws ensure that only terminally ill, mentally capable adults with a prognosis of six months or less who voluntarily seek this healthcare option are able to access it.
“After nearly 30 years of experience, the time-tested, evidence-based eligibility criteria for medical aid in dying have demonstrated that the kinds of abuses people fear have simply not arisen,” Darling added.
“These lawsuits are part of a broader effort to dismantle medical aid in dying across the country—but so far, similar challenges have failed because the plaintiffs could not show they are actually harmed by aid-in-dying laws,” said Darling. “Courts have consistently rejected these lawsuits because these laws are completely voluntary for patients and physicians alike. The laws ensure eligibility and access to this option protect patients.”
“People with disabilities deserve to have their autonomy respected and honored by being given access to, and information about, all end-of-life care healthcare options,” Darling concluded.
79% of voters nationwide with disabilities support medical aid in dying, which is authorized in 13 states and Washington, D.C.
For more information and frequently asked questions about medical aid in dying, visit: compassionandchoices.org/resource/frequently-asked-questions
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