New Jersey

New Jersey’s Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act authorizes medical aid in dying in the Garden State, marking the culmination of 7 years of on-the-ground organizing by Compassion & Choices and action by volunteer advocates. Governor Phil Murphy signed the law on April 12, 2019.

Thank you to all who worked so hard to see the New Jersey Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act become reality.

If you would like to be part of our grassroots implementation campaign to ensure that terminally ill New Jersey residents have access to this compassionate option as soon as it is available, click here to make sure you’re signed up to volunteer.

Accessing the Law

If you’re a New Jersey resident who believes that medical aid in dying is a compassionate and important end-of-life option and would like to know which medical facilities and hospices have policies supportive of end-of-life choice, we will soon be adding these facilities to our online Find Care Tool. This tool will be able to help you find a healthcare team that will honor your end-of-life values. Watch this space for more information!

Get more information about New Jersey.

History

Since legislation to authorize medical aid in dying was first introduced in the New Jersey Legislature in 2012, Compassion & Choices has been dedicated to ensuring that this compassionate end-of-life option is available to the terminally ill residents of the Garden State.

Our New Jersey legislative campaign was fueled by the commitment of tens of thousands of grassroots supporters and hundreds of volunteers, as well as a strategic media campaign that included robust digital marketing and advertising in key media outlets.

On March 12, 2018, the Assembly Judiciary Committee heard testimony on the bill. The committee voted 5-2 to approve the bill, with several committee members citing the testimony of our supporters and telling stories of their own life experiences with death and dying. On February 7, 2019, the bill was passed out of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee with a 6-3 vote.

On March 25, 2019, the bill passed in both the Assembly and Senate with votes of 41-33-4 and 21-16, respectively.

Less than an hour after passage in both houses, Governor Phil Murphy issued a statement that he would sign the bill. True to his word, he signed the law authorizing medical aid in dying on April 12, 2019.

Accessing the Law

New Jersey Advance Directive

History

Polling Data

Stories from New Jersey

New Jersey

Accessing the Law

New Jersey Advance Directive

History

Polling Data

Stories from New Jersey

Susan Boyce

Laurie Wilcox

Debra Dunn