A law allowing terminally ill patients to end their lives goes into effect in New Jersey this week.
The Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act will become official Thursday and allows physicians to prescribe life-ending medication to patients who want to die and have a medical prognosis of six months or less.
The legislation requires a psychiatrist or psychologist to determine that the patient has the correct mental capacity to make the decision. It was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy on April 12.
“Allowing residents with terminal illnesses to make end-of-life choices for themselves is the right thing to do,” Murphy said in a press release at the time of the signing. “By signing this bill today, 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.”
The act passed the New Jersey State Assembly 41-33 and the senate at 21-16 margin. Other states that have passed similar laws include Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington state.
Last Wednesday, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed legislation that allows those with an estimated 15 days left to live to bypass the 15-day waiting period required under the state’s Death with Dignity Act, which was originally passed in 1997.
