The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings and the Honorable Shane E. Pendergrass End-of-Life Option Act (SB0926/HB1328), which would authorize medical aid in dying in Maryland, was introduced in the Senate on February 4, 2025, by Senator William C. Smith. Just a few days later, on February 7, the companion bill was co-filed in the House with the support of 49 sponsors.
On March 3, the House bill (HB1328) received a hearing in the Health and Government Operations Committee, demonstrating growing legislative interest and engagement on this compassionate option. Unfortunately, the Senate continues to be a hurdle and chose not to advance the bill this session. As Senate Judicial Proceedings Chair Will Smith stated, “The votes aren’t there — not in committee and not on the floor.”
While this is disappointing, our Maryland team is committed to continuing a statewide education and outreach campaign aimed at deepening public understanding and building the support needed to pass this vital legislation in the future.
Maryland lawmakers need to hear from you today! Use our quick form to email them and share your support for end-of-life autonomy.
Una gran mayoría de los votantes de Maryland apoyan la medida de ayuda médica para morir, de acuerdo a una encuesta nueva elaborada por Gonzáles Research & Media Services, y patrocinada por Compassion & Choices, el grupo de defensa de cuidados de salud para el fin de vida. Compassion & Choices publicó la encuesta durante…
A strong majority of Maryland voters support medical aid-in-dying legislation, according to a new poll conducted by Gonzales Research & Media Services and sponsored by the end-of-life care advocacy group Compassion & Choices. Compassion & Choices released the poll during a Zoom rally on Thursday at 9 a.m. featuring a Baltimore woman with metastatic breast cancer, Diane Kraus, urging Maryland lawmakers…
Marylander with Metastatic Breast, End-of-Life Care Advocacy Group Join Medical Aid-in-Dying Bill Author to Urge Bill’s Passage A strong majority of Maryland voters support medical aid-in-dying legislation, according to a new poll conducted by Gonzales Research & Media Services and sponsored by the end-of-life care advocacy group Compassion & Choices. Compassion & Choices released the poll during a Zoom…
Paid for by Compassion & Choices Action Network. Maryland Governor-elect Wes Moore endorsed medical aid in dying as an option for mentally capable, terminally ill adults to gently end unbearable suffering during a question and answer session at the Maryland Daily Record’s Eye on Annapolis Summit on key issues in 2023. Below is a partial transcript of…
Compassion & Choices is deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Rev. Joseph Kitchen, a Maryland volunteer supporter and activist. Rev. Kitchen served as the president of Young Democrats of Maryland and lent an active voice to progressive politics in the state. During the 2020 Maryland legislative session, Rev. Kitchen, along with faith leaders…
Inspired by his wife’s early involvement with Compassion & Choices and informed by watching both his parents endure difficult deaths, Jim Perdue puts his all into expanding end-of-life options in Maryland.
This is an excerpt from the March 22,2020 edition of the Washington Post. Read the full article. The March 9 editorial “Avoiding unnecessary suffering” endorsed the Maryland End-of-Life Option Act. Contrary to claims by bill opponents, as in the March 13 letter “Maryland should reject assisted suicide,” terminally ill people who request medical aid in…
Since Feb. 9, four newspapers – The Washington Post, The Maryland Independent, The Calvert Recorder, and Frederick News-Post – have endorsed Maryland’s End of Life Option Act (SB 701/HB 643). This compassionate bill would give mentally capable, terminally ill adults with six months or less to live the option to get prescription medication they could…
Compassion & Choices President/CEO Kim Callinan writes in the Daily Record, “Every year since the Maryland End of Life Option Act was first introduced in 2015, lawmakers have debated and deliberated while terminally ill Marylanders like Marcy Rubin have died unnecessarily suffering. Tragically, Marcy died from metastatic breast cancer last year, just two months after…
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