The state of New Jersey is at the center of controversy as they gear up to allow assisted suicide, as documented by Townhall.
Assisted suicide is a very graphic and inherently morbid subject matter. Those for and against the practice maintain very strong outlooks and opinions on this subject matter.
Assisted Suicide in New Jersey
On Monday, the state passed the Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act. Under this legislation, terminally ill patients with six months to live (or less) would have the option of ending their lives by taking certain medications. This act passed with overwhelming support from Democrats and even a minority of Republican support.
Phil Murphy, the governor of New Jersey, has stated that the legislation is about “dignity” and the allowance of choice.
In his own words:
“Allowing terminally ill and dying residents the dignity to make end-of-life decisions according to their own consciences is the right thing to do. I look forward to signing this legislation into law.”
However, not everyone is convinced. Those who oppose the allowance of assisted suicide note the potential for abuse, particularly for individuals who are most vulnerable.
Matt Valliere, the Patients Rights Action Fund executive director, explained the logic behind this position:
“In other states where assisted suicide is legal, it has proven impossible to regulate and leaves the door wide open for abuse and coercion. The vulnerable in society: the poor, terminally ill, and people with disabilities, will be the most negatively affected by assisted suicide. New Jersey ought to be investing in better care and support at the end of life, not enshrining this dangerous public policy into law.”
Additional concerns involve doctors’ potential to misdiagnose the amount of time patients have left to live coupled with the potential gain for various insurance companies.
What do you think about assisted suicide? Should it be legal or illegal? Sound off in the comments section down below!
[ABTM id=25171]
