New Jersey: Disability Advocates Testify Against Assisted Suicide Bill

Assisted suicide is being promoted once again in New Jersey, going through the Assembly Judiciary meeting. This bill made it through the Assembly twice in previous legislative sessions, but failed to garner enough votes in the NJ Senate. Now, with the election of a new Governor and new members in the Legislature, the supporters of this bill are trying again.

On Monday, March 12, the bill was the subject of a public hearing of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Disability Rights advocates were on hand to testify against the bill.

Here are the audio link and time markers for the disability witnesses.

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/mp.asp?M=A/2018/AJU/0312-1200PM-M0-1.M4A&S=2018

• Dawn Parkot and Lindsay Tuman – 1:49:35-1:56:44
• Kate Blisard 2:38.10-2:41:22
• Kathryn Carroll 2:53:48-2:57:00
• Alex Thompson 3:05:54-3:08:13

This bill is virtually identical to the Oregon assisted suicide law, and poses dangers to people with terminal illnesses, as well as people with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Oregon officials have recently written that a person is considered “terminal” under the assisted suicide law if their life depends on any form of treatment or medication and the person does not get that treatment or medication for any reason. This applies whether the person refuses or is denied treatment involuntarily, such as by insurance denial, or for any other reason. State interpretations of Oregon’s law are precedent for other state laws using the same language.

Recent Oregon state reports include the following as qualifying conditions: neurological disease, respiratory disease, heart/circulatory disease, infectious disease, gastrointestinal disease, endocrine/metabolic disease and, in the category labeled “other”, arthritis, arteritis, sclerosis, stenosis, kidney failure, and musculoskeletal systems disorders.

Click here for a written version of  Dawn Parkot’s testimony.

Click here for a written version of Kate Blisard’s testimony.

In addition to live testimony, NDY President/CEO submitted written testimony. You can read it here.

The Committee voted the bill out for the Assembly to vote on. A setback, but the fight’s far from over. Thanks so much for the disability activists and activists who are engaging in the fight for our lives – in New Jersey and across the country.