Holistic health practitioner Marilynn Freeman of Silver City, New Mexico, became involved in issues surrounding death and empowerment more than 20 years ago. “I think that end-of-life choices really incorporate holistic-health living,” says Freeman. “I see so many people who follow what they believe to be a holistic path. Then as soon as they run…

Medical aid-in-dying keeps moving closer to passage in Hawai’i, and advocate Susan Lynch has been working to bring this option to the state since 2002. Hawai’i’s latest medical aid-in-dying bill just passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, and part of Compassion & Choices’ phenomenal on-the-ground team is volunteer Susan Lynch. Susan, who has been actively working…

In the first quarter of 2023 Compassion & Choices staff have been featured on four podcasts, hosted a number of national webinars, been recognized in multiple publications, and created a variety of new online videos for our supporters. Check out the round-up of resources below. News Features For a full list of all press releases,…

Tom shared his story in March of 2022. People who are opposed to medical aid in dying will often say, “We have hospice and palliative care, we don’t need medical aid in dying.” But that’s just not true. Over the course of more than 30 years as an oncologist, hematologist and palliative care and hospice…

When My Time Comes, a collection of compelling interviews, chronicles award-winning journalist Diane Rehm’s gripping conversations with legislators, advocates, clinicians, the clergy, terminally ill patients and critics of medical aid in dying. The documentary also features commentary and public testimony from the Compassion & Choices community, including President Emerita/Senior Adviser Barbara Coombs Lee, National Medical…

  Note From the President and CEO Words do matter. Here’s why we avoid referring to medical aid in dying as death with dignity. Read more. Top News Governor Newsom Signs California Bill Improvements to the End of Life Option Act mean easier access for residents of the nation’s most populous state. Read more. Supporter Spotlight:…

Jane shared her story in August of 2023. I seem to be attracted to subjects no one really wants to talk about. I recently retired at 75 from my work as director of development for an organization that supports people in recovery from substance use disorder. I always said, “Once I’m done with this work,…

Compassion & Choices praised the NAACP for passing a resolution at their annual meeting urging that families educate themselves on all aspects of end-of-life planning including advance healthcare directives, healthcare proxies and end-of-life options such as hospice and palliative care.  The resolution was amended and ratified by the NAACP National Board of Directors in October,…

According to the Institute of Medicine Report, palliative care provides relief from pain and other symptoms, supports quality of life, and is focused on patients with serious advanced illness and their families. It may be delivered in a number of ways across the continuum of healthcare settings, including in the home, nursing homes, long-term acute…

Dorothy shared her story in October of 2022. At age 36, my daughter Wendy was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer and given a 5% chance of surviving five years. Her oncologist told her he would do all he could to make sure she was one of the 5%. This would turn out to be…