Learn what is happening in New Mexico regarding medical aid in dying

Category: Local News Releases Local News Releases
Published: 22 October 2017 22 October 2017

Medical aid in dying is an end-of-life medical practice in which a mentally capable, terminally ill adult with less than six months to live may request medication from his or her doctor for self-administration to bring about a peaceful death if his or her suffering becomes unbearable. Medical aid in dying is rarely used but for those with unbearable suffering this choice brings great comfort. This practice has been used very successfully in Oregon for almost 20 years. In fact, of those patients who obtain the medication, about one third do not use the medicine but die naturally and are comforted by the control they have at the end of their life.

There will be an informal meeting on October 27 from 1:45 – 3:15 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Silver City, 3845 North Swan Street in order to learn more about what has been happening in New Mexico.

Six states have authorized medical aid in dying: Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont, California, and Colorado plus Washington DC. In March 2012 a case was introduced in a New Mexico court to allow medical aid in dying. Over 4 years later on June 30, 2016 the New Mexico Supreme Court declared the New Mexico Legislature, not the court, should decide this issue.

A group of supportive New Mexicans has formed the New Mexico End-of-Life Options Coalition whose specific goal is to legalize and implement medical aid in dying in New Mexico. The Coalition identified bill sponsors and drafted medical aid-in-dying legislation, which was introduced in the 2017 New Mexico legislature. Sadly this New Mexico End-of-Life Options Act failed to pass. The goal now is to introduce this New Mexico End-of-Life Options Act in the 2019 legislature. So, it is very necessary to educate New Mexicans about this issue.

Barak Wolff, a Public Health advocate from Santa Fe will be giving an overview of what has been happening in New Mexico. There will be time for a Q & A session. Light refreshments will be available. Barak has been actively involved with this issue for several years and has given many presentations on this topic.

We hope to inspire more interest and education on this issue in our community in preparation for the 2019 legislative session.

If you cannot make it to the Friday event you are welcome to join Barak for Coffee at 9:00 am on Saturday, October 28, at the Unitarian Universalists Fellowship for more explanations and question and answers.

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