N.J. Death with Dignity Act would be first assisted dying law on East ...

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

A bill is being proposed in New Jersey that would allow terminally ill people to self-administer medications that would end their life in a dignified manner.

Democratic Assemblyman John Burzichelli introduced the Death With Dignity Act. Assisting another person with suicide in New Jersey is currently a crime.

According?to the Los Angeles Times, a person would have six months or less to live and would need to make at least two verbal requests and one written request to receive the medication. Two doctors have to certify that the patient is terminally ill, and the same two doctors have to assure that the person is making the decision voluntarily, and send the patient to counseling first.

There would be a 15-day waiting period after the first request is made, according to Burzichelli's measure. He told CBS New York, ?People should have the right, in my opinion, to control their body. This is a matter of personal conscience, a matter of personal faith, and a matter of personal choice.?

Patients who had impaired judgment will not be eligible for the law, according?to Newsmax, and hospitals maintain the right to forbid their doctors from writing the prescription for the fatal amount of medication.

Burzichelli is uncertain if the final version of his measure will need a public referendum.

Oregon and Washington are currently the only U.S. states that have the right-to-die law, according? to gantdaily.com. Since it took effect in Oregon in 1997, 596 people have died from self-administered drugs. The law passed in 2009 in Washington, and 213 people have made the choice.

Source: http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/healthquest/death-with-dignity-act

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