Compassion & Choices envisions a society that affirms life and accepts the inevitability of death, embraces expanded options for compassionate dying, and empowers everyone to choose end-of-life care that reflects their values, priorities and beliefs. We offer educational opportunities and tools to help people assess, define and communicate their values around end-of-life care — like our Truth in Treatment program, Dementia Initiative and End-of-Life Resource Center. We also are excited to announce the release of Finish Strong, a book by Compassion & Choices President Barbara Coombs Lee. Available January 8, 2019, Finish Strong is for those of us who want an end-of-life experience to match the life we’ve enjoyed — defined by love, purpose and agency. It is full of stories, facts and dialogue that will help each of us prepare for latter days that reflect our values and priorities.
Massachusetts Advance Directive
State-specific advance directives make clear your end-of-life preferences if you are unable to make or communicate medical treatment decisions yourself. For the Massachusetts advance directive form, click here.
History
2019
In December 2019, a Massachusetts court dismissed of all but one count in a lawsuit brought by Compassion & Choices on behalf of two Massachusetts physicians asserting the state constitution and existing state law allow medical aid in dying for mentally capable, terminally ill adults. Compassion & Choices is working toward appealing the ruling.
The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health heard testimony on the End of Life Options Act on June 25, 2019. The bill was advanced by the committee following a May 2020 vote.
On January 8, 2019, medical aid-in-dying legislation (H.1926) was introduced in the Massachusetts Legislature by Representative Louis L. Kafka and Senator William N. Brownsberger with a combined 63 cosponsors.
A companion bill (S.1208) was introduced in the Senate by Senator William Brownsberger on January 14, 2019.
2017
On September 26, 2017, the Massachusetts JPH held a hearing for the End of Life Options Act introduced by Rep. Lou Kafka (H1194) and Sen. Barbara L’Italien (S1225), and cosponsored by 46 legislators. We had 175 supporters turn out, and many testified including doctors, faith leaders, social workers, legislators and people with personal stories. The JPH Committee did not move the bill forward.
2016
On October 26, 2016, Compassion & Choices filed suit in the Massachusetts Superior Court on behalf of two medical doctors asserting that current state law allows physicians to offer terminally ill, mentally capable adults the option of medical aid in dying.
2015
The Massachusetts Compassionate Care for the Terminally Ill Act (H 1991) was heard by the Joint Public Health Committee in October 2015. Compassion & Choices secured 39 cosponsors for the bill, filled two hearing rooms with supporters and heard more than 30 supportive testimonies. The bill was recommended for further review in Summer 2016, essentially preventing the bill from advancing that legislative session.
2014
Compassion & Choices stepped up our volunteer efforts in Massachusetts in the 2013 – 2014 legislative session. We hosted a strong lobby day at the State House in Feb 2014, visiting 30 state representatives and senators, including many of our key swing legislators on the Public Health Committee, and delivered 7,000 petition signatures in support of aid in dying. The supporters in attendance represented a variety of professional backgrounds including physicians, social workers, former state legislators and constituents with personal stories.
The bill was recommended for further review, essentially preventing it from advancing in that session.
2012
Compassion & Choices has been on the ground working in the state for six years, beginning with a citizen-led ballot initiative in 2012. Although polls were indicating 64 percent support, this initiative was narrowly defeated by a last-minute influx of out-of-state campaign funds directed at massive media scare tactics and criticisms of the proposed legislation not being protective enough and allowing manipulation of the system.
Polling Data
Purple Insights Survey, February 2014
Seven out of 10 Massachusetts voters (71%) support a proposal to allow “mentally competent, terminally ill patients with less than six months to live be able to end their life in a humane and dignified manner, using prescription medications they can self-administer.”
For full polling data for Massachusetts, click here.
