End of Life Options Act Advances to the Nevada Assembly Floor

Bill Allows Peaceful Death Option for Terminally-Ill Nevadans

Apr 9, 2021

(CARSON CITY, NV) The Assembly Health & Human Services Committee finished their work on the End of Life Options Act (AB 351) and it now advances to the Assembly Floor. Compassion & Choices Action Network strongly urges Assembly members to join 73% of Nevada voters who approved this measure and vote to pass AB 351.The committee held a hearing on Wednesday on the legislation authored by AssemblymemberEdgar Flores (D-Las Vegas). This legislation would allow terminally ill, mentally capable adults the option to request and receive medication they may decide to take to peacefully end unbearable suffering. "Terminally-ill Nevadans are a step closer to the full range of end-of-life care options, including medical aid in dying,” said Sam DeWitt, Nevada Campaign Manager for Compassion & Choices Action Network.  “We are grateful to members of the Assembly Health & Human Services Committee for listening to the voices of the majority of Nevadans who support this compassionate and urgent bill that will allow terminally-ill Nevadans the option to die peacefully.”Nearly three out of four (73%) Nevada voters support medical aid in dying legislation, across the ethnic, political and religious spectrum. Support for this legislation is diverse: 73% of Hispanics/Latinos, 76% of African Americans, 67% of Catholics, 67% of non-denominational Christians, 74% of other religions favor a medical aid-in-dying measure, according to a poll conducted in February by Public Policy Polling.Assemblymember Flores opened the virtual hearing on Wednesday by describing the experience of a family member in end-of-life care.“In a very selfish way… I’ve always associated (death) with how it relates to me,” Flores said as he held back tears. “And I think I realized that I needed to really go on the other side of that conversation and that’s where it hit me. That it’s not about me, it’s not about you, it’s not about the family member, it’s not about how everybody in that room feels, but rather that individual who suffered every second.”Hanna Olivas is a 46-year-old Las Vegas mother of four children who has been living with a rare form of incurable blood cancer. She said doctors estimated that she had five years to live in 2017.

“I was very disappointed when a similar bill that was introduced in Nevada ran out of time and did not move forward during the 2019 legislative session,” she stated in written testimony. “This compassionate bill is more important to me than ever. I don’t have time to wait for another legislative session. I need my full range of end-of-life options now.”During the virtual hearing on Wednesday, Nevadans across the state told stories about loved ones who suffered agonizing deaths because they did not have the option of medical aid in dying. One by one, they spoke about brain cancer, and other types of terminal illnesses that ended their loved ones’ lives with needless suffering.Dar Stone, a Las Vegas physician assistant for 38 years recalled the suffering of his patients at the end of lives.“It is important to clarify that medical aid in dying is NOT ‘assisted suicide,” she said. “People who request medical aid in dying simply want the option to ease their pain and suffering, so they can die peacefully.”Assemblymember Flores closed the hearing by saying:“I come before you … and engage in a very personal and very complex conversation that a whole host of other states are now engaging in, that we can use and study and continue to evolve and grow in this particular subject matter,” Flores said.Medical-aid-in-dying legislation is supported by numerous Nevada state organizations, groups and chapters, such as the ACLU of Nevada, Nevada Association of Health Plans, National Association of Social Workers and the Nevada Libertarian Party. In addition, the Nevada Medical Society adopted a neutral position on the bill, joining Nevada Psychiatric Association and Nevada State Board of Pharmacy. Ten jurisdictions have authorized medical aid in dying including nine states, California, Colorado, Hawai‘i, Maine, Montana (via state Supreme Court ruling), New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, as well as Washington, D.C. On Thursday, this end-of-life care option was signed into law in New Mexico that will take effect in mid-June. Collectively, these 11 jurisdictions represent one out of five U.S. residents (22%) and have decades of combined experience successfully implementing this medical practice.  About Compassion & Choices and Compassion & Choices NetworkCompassion & Choices is comprised of two organizations that improve care and expand options at life's end: Compassion & Choices (501(c)(3)) educates, empowers, defends, and advocates; the Compassion & Choices Action Network (501(c)(4)) focuses exclusively on legislation, ballot campaigns, and limited electoral work. Paid for by Compassion & Choices Action Network.CompassionAndChoices.org/Nevada