Week 23/2015 in the Death with Dignity Movement

In the week from June 1 to June 7, 2015:

• In our movement’s most important event so far this year, the California Senate approved SB 128, End of Life Option Act, a Death with Dignity bill, 23 to 14. The bill now heads to the Assembly with the first hearing, in the Health Committee, scheduled for June 22.
• A proposed Death with Dignity bill was heard and promptly tabled.
• A new bill has been introduced in the New York Senate, by a Republican lawmaker, bringing the total to four (two in the Assembly, two in the Senate).
• Though referring a bill for summer study is a roundabout way of killing a bill quietly, in Tennessee a Senate committee will discuss a proposed Death with Dignity bill.

California

• “Aid-in-dying legislation will take too long for me,” San Francisco Chronicle, 6/1/2015
• “For ‘Death with Dignity Act’ in California,” The San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/2/2015
• “Mercury News editorial: Avoiding a dying with dignity ballot fight,” San Jose Mercury News, 6/1/2015
• “California state Senate approves aid-in-dying bill,” SF Gate, 6/4/2015
• “Assisted-death bill approved by California Senate,” Los Angeles Times, 6/4/2015
• “California Senate approves assisted death law,” Sacramento Bee, 6/4/2015
• “State senate approves ‘Right to Die’ bill,” KTVU-FOX, 6/4/2015
• “‘Assisted suicide’ or ‘aid in dying?’ The semantic battle over SB 128,” KPCC, 6/4/2015
• “Calif. Senate approves physician-assisted suicide bill,” KPCC, 6/4/2015
• “Right to die bill passes California Senate,” The Desert Sun, 6/4/2015
• “California Senate approves assisted death law,” Merced Sun-Star, 6/4/2015
• “Right-to-die bill clears California Senate 23-14,” San Jose Mercury News, 6/4/2015
• “Maynard lobbied Gov. Brown on aid-in-dying bill just before her death,” Los Angeles Times, 6/5/2015
• “‘Death with dignity’ bill moves forward,” Ukiah Daily Journal, 6/6/2015
• “I’d prefer to decide how I die,” Woodland Daily Democrat, 6/6/2015
• “Physician-Assisted Death Legislation Moves Forward In California,” NPR, 6/7/2015

Delaware

• “Physician-assisted suicide bill gets a hearing,” Delaware Online, 6/1/2015
• “Physician-assisted suicide tabled in Health committee,” Delaware Online, 6/3/2015
• “Committee stalls physician-assisted suicide bill,” Delaware Public Media, 6/3/2015
• “Assisted suicide bill tabled by Delaware House committee,” Delaware State News, 6/3/2015

New York

• “Report: GOP NY senator introduces physician-assisted suicide bill,” Syracuse.com, 6/5/2015
• “State Senator agrees to sponsor end-of-life legislation,” Capital New York, 6/4/2015

Tennessee

• “Senate committee to discuss assisted suicide bill June 9,” The Tennesseean, 6/2/2015
• “Should Tennesseans Have The Right To Die? Lawmakers Prepare For Debate,” Nashville Public Radio, 6/2/2015

Elsewhere

• Maine: “Our View: Dying Mainers deserve right to make final choice in life,” Portland Press Herald, 6/3/2015
• New Hampshire: “Editorial: Veto delays an important conversation,” Concord Monitor, 6/4/2015
• New Jersey: “One woman’s struggle to legally end her life after being diagnosed with terminal illness,” FIOS1, 6/3/2015
• Vermont: “Saying Goodbye to the Family, on His Own Terms,” MPBN, 6/4/2015

Featured image by Svein Halvor Halvorsen.