Senators in the state of New Jersey today voted to pass the Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act 21 to 16, after it earlier passed through the state assembly with the wide margin of 41 to 33.

“Now over nine million more people live in a state where they have the option to choose how they go and when they go if they are suffering at the end of their life,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“New Jersey now becomes the eighth U.S. state to legalise assisted dying following California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

“The New Jersey Senate have acted with true compassion and courage in passing this law.

“New Zealand is not a world leader on assisted dying and MPs in New Zealand should take comfort in the legalisation of assisted dying in other jurisdictions when considering their own vote at the second reading of the End of Life Choice Bill later this year.”

New Jersey Governor Murphy has said, “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.”

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