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.
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…
Terminally ill Marylanders, family members whose loved ones died in agony, doctors, faith leaders, mental health professionals, and policy makers testified Friday about the urgent need to pass the End of Life Option Act (SB 701/HB 643) before the State Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. The bill, which has 69 sponsors in the Senate (16) and…
Various religious leaders who support Maryland’s medical aid-in-dying bill spoke passionately at a news conference today about how their faith informs their thinking on this peaceful dying option to end unbearable suffering, shared personal experiences showing the need for it, and respond to opponents’ arguments against it. “There is no Biblical doctrine anyone can stand…
I am proud to share the news that our lobby day last Tuesday was a huge success! Compassion & Choices President and CEO Kim Callinan addresses Lobby Day attendees in Annapolis. We had over 185 attendees and 15 legislative sponsors and cosponsors come out to support the Maryland End of Life Option Act. We…
I am proud to share the news that our lobby day last Tuesday was a huge success! Compassion & Choices President and CEO Kim Callinan addresses Lobby Day attendees in Annapolis. We had over 185 attendees and 15 legislative sponsors and cosponsors come out to support the Maryland End of Life Option Act. We…
Compassion & Choices Maryland y más de 100 de sus voluntarios, hicieron un llamado hoy a los legisladores estatales para que honren las vidas de tres defensores del proyecto de ley End of Life Option Act o medida Opciones de Fin de Vida, que murieron el año pasado; Michael Bush, Presidente de la Cama Baja…
Compassion & Choices Maryland and 150 of its volunteers urged state lawmakers to honor the deaths last year of three advocates for the End of Life Option Act, Maryland Speaker Michael Bush, Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings and Chevy Chase cancer patient Marcy Rubin, by passing the bill this session. The bill, also known as the…
On January 20, 2020, Donna Smith, Maryland Campaign Manager, was on the Senior Zone radio show discussing advancing end-of-life options in Maryland. Shawn Perry, African American Leadership Council member, is the host of the show. They discussed upcoming legislation, end-of-life care and options, and the importance of end-of-life conversations to the African American community. Listen…
En respuesta a una pregunta directa hecha por Compassion & Choices, al gobernador de Maryland, si su experiencia potencialmente mortal por el linfoma non-Hodgkins, había cambiado su percepción en cuestiones de cuidados de fin de vida, el gobernador Hogan respondió que sí cambió y dijo “estar abierto de ambos lados en la cuestión,” sobre la…
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