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Giving The Terminally Ill A Choice
At the time of signing New Jersey’s right to die law on April 12, Gov. Phil Murphy told local news that “Allowing residents with terminal illnesses to make end-of-life choices for themselves is the right thing to do.”
“We are providing terminally ill patients and their families with the humanity, dignity, and respect that they so richly deserve at the most difficult times any of us will face,” Murphy continues.
As part of the new law that will go into effect today, the person has to be an adult and deemed of sound mind by their physician. The person must also be terminally ill with six months or less to live and diagnosed by two medical doctors. The patient must then sign a written declaration, witnessed by two people, that they’re acting voluntarily.
The law has received a lot of backlash with critics claiming that the law is merely a doctor-assisted suicide. However, lawmakers and doctors say that with this new law, the patient must be able to take the medication themselves.
The medication comes in the form of a powder that is mixed in a liquid. Other states that have the “right to die” laws include Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.
By: Maytinee Kramer
