Sign the Petition in Support of Medical Aid in Dying legislation.
Dear Ohio Legislator,
It's time for Ohio to honor freedom and compassion by passing a proven Medical Aid in Dying law! As someone who values life, I firmly believe that hospice and palliative care are 100% compatible with an aid-in-dying option. A dying person's quality of life shouldn't be dependent on where they live, and Ohioans should have the freedom to make this decision.
This Medical Aid in Dying bill is modeled on best practices within the U.S. framework. It would allow terminally ill adult Ohioans who are able to make informed healthcare decisions with less than six months to live the option to obtain a prescription from their doctor for medications that would allow them to die peacefully in their sleep, surrounded by loved ones, at a time of their choosing. Any healthcare provider may opt not to participate.
A Medical Aid in Dying law would follow established safeguards that have proven effective in 13 states and Washington, D.C. Illinois and New York will soon join the states that have successfully implemented similar laws, demonstrating that it is possible to provide this option while protecting patients' rights and preventing abuse.
Two physicians must verify the following:
- The terminal diagnosis with less than six months to live.
- The patient is seeking the prescription voluntarily. No one can request medication on someone else's behalf.
- The patient is able to make informed decisions.
- The patient can self-administer the medication independently.
- Advanced age, disability, and dementia or Alzheimer's do not qualify; only a terminal diagnosis allows one to make this request.
Seven in ten Ohioans, including me, believe that terminally ill people should have access to ALL end-of-life options, including Medical Aid in Dying, according to a May 2018 survey of Ohio voters. This law would give Ohioans more freedom and peace of mind when they face inevitable death, and it aligns with the majority opinion of our state's citizens.
It's time for Ohio to allow this compassionate option for its citizens!