Our Legislative Work

Compassion & Choices Action Network seeks to pass aid-in-dying laws for terminally-ill, mentally-competent adults. C&C works to build coalitions which forward legislation strengthening advanced directives. Our Action Network also continues to work to promote pain and palliative care training for health care providers.

VIEW DOCUMENTS IN OUR DATABASE»

Life Sustaining Treatment Preferences Act of 2009 (HR 1898)

HR 1898, the Life Sustaining Treatment Preferences Act of 2009, introduced by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Charles Boustany (R-LA), would provide coverage under the Medicare Program for consultations regarding POLST.
 
HR 1898 will lay the groundwork so all seriously ill Americans have the tools to make informed medical care decisions. The bill will also help patients convey their care plans as clearly as possible and feel confident their wishes will be known and respected by health care personnel. These tools will help the dying choose between acute care and hospice care, avoid unwanted medical interventions and do a much better job of explaining why and when to choose hospice care.  Read more here.

Status:  As the health care reform debate heats up in Washington and around the country, opponents of end-of-life choice have launched a mis-information campaign to undermine a key provision of health care reform. We need your help to respond. Please click here to visit our Action Network.

 

HHS Regulations

Compassion & Choices has called for the repeal of Bush Administration regulations allowing denial of medical services based on health care worker religious beliefs.

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Right To Know End-Of-Life Options Act (R2K)

Patients and their families need better end-of-life information. R2K provides terminally-ill patients with full disclosure and counseling about all of their end-of-life options upon request.

Learn more about Right To Know

Washington Death With Dignity (I-1000)

Washington is the second state to Legalize Aid in Dying! The Yes on I-000 Campaign has moved patient's rights forward. The Oregon experience shows aid-in-dying law benefits all at end of life. It provides comfort and control to  the terminally ill and ends violent deaths.

Status: On November 4, 2008, Washington votersoverwhelmingly approved I-1000 59% to 41%.

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California Right To Know End-Of-Life Options Act (AB2747, Berg-Levine)

This Act requires health care providers to inform terminally ill patients of all their available legal options for end-of-life care.

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Status: Gov. Schwarzenegger signed the Terminal Patients’ Right to Know End-of-Life Options Act, AB 2747 (Berg-Levine) on September 30, 2008. The law will go into effect for California residents on January 1, 2009.

Around the nation

We are monitoring the trend in the states to improve end of life choices. Follow the fight to secure appropriate pain care at the end of life all over the nation.

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Learn more about the aid-in-dying movement by reading Milestones in Policy Change

ACTION ALERT!

Call for Accurate Language Let the media know that “assisted suicide” is a biased, inaccurate term. Click Here.