April 12, 2019: Governor Phil Murphy signed the state’s “Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act” into law today, making New Jersey the nation’s ninth jurisdiction to legalize medical aid in dying. (The others are California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Vermont, Washington state, and the District of Columbia.) When the governor signed the bill, he said “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.” In his signing statement, the governor said “After careful consideration, internal reflection, and prayer, I have concluded that, while my faith may lead me to a particular decision for myself, as a public official I cannot deny this alternative to those who may reach a different conclusion.”
The new law, which is modeled after Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act, becomes effective on August 1, 2019. It allows qualified patients diagnosed with a terminal illness and fewer than six months to live to obtain a prescription for medication that would end their lives.
Other states are actively considering similar bills. In New York, Governor Cuomo has expressed support for the “Medical Aid in Dying Act,” which is under consideration by the legislature.