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.
In response to a direct question to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan from Compassion & Choices about if his life-threatening experience with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma had changed his perception of end-of-life care issues, Gov. Hogan said it did and he was “open to both sides of the issue” on the End of Life Option Act. Gov. Hogan…
Compassion & Choices CEO Kim Callinan wrote an op-ed published in the Capital Gazette. She said, “While the opposition’s antics resulted in the advancement of problematic provisions in the Senate bill, we are proud of the End-of-Life Option Act sponsors, Delegate Shane Pendergrass and Smith. We also are thankful to the lawmakers who voted in…
(Annapolis, MD) Advocates for the Maryland End-of-Life Option Act (SB311/HB399) expressed disappointment that the Senate failed to pass the legislation today in a 23 to 23 tie vote, but vowed to continue fighting to enact the bill into law in the near future. The bipartisan bill would have given mentally capable, terminally ill adults with…
The Senate Judicial Proceedings voted 7 to 3 to advance the Maryland End-of-Life Option Act (SB311/HB399), after hours of debate last night on troubling amendments the committee added to the bill. The bipartisan legislation would give mentally capable, terminally ill adults with six months or less to live the option to get a doctor’s prescription…
Seriously ill advocates for the End-of-Life Option Act (SB311/HB399) urged senators Thursday not to add reported amendments to the bill’s multiple eligibility criteria and safeguards that may make it more difficult, if not impossible, for terminally ill adults to access the law if it passes. The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is scheduled to vote on…
The Frederick News-Post editorial, “Right to a peaceful death,” March 11, 2019 “Medical aid in dying, as the End-of-Life Option Act would allow, is an idea whose time has definitely come. Anyone who has ever watched a loved one die a painful death — gasping for air, writhing in pain — cannot help but be supportive of…
Compassion & Choices praised the Maryland House of Delegates for passing the End-of-Life Option Act today by 74 to 66 vote and urged the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee to approve the bill as soon as possible for a Senate vote. The bipartisan legislation, also known as Richard E. Israel and Roger “Pip” Moyer Act, SB311/HB399),…
Read the full article at www.baltimoresun.com Compassion & Choices Medical Director Dr. David Grube writes, “Medical aid in dying empowers the dying person to have some autonomy over their life when there is very little of it left. Just having this conversation with a dying person has a comforting, palliative effect — something that I…
Compassion & Choices praised the Maryland Health and Government Operations/Judiciary Committee for approving a medical aid-in-dying bill this afternoon for consideration by the full House of Delegates in a 24 to 20 vote. The bipartisan legislation, the End-of-Life Option Act (Richard E. Israel and Roger “Pip” Moyer Act, SB311/HB399), would give mentally capable, terminally ill…
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