Compassion & Choices Action Network

Quote by Andrew Batavia and Hugh Gallagher, co-founders of Autonomy. "We do not think that people with disabilities, who have struggled for many years to have control over their own lives and bodies, would or should give up this decision-making autonomy at the end of life."

Andrew Batavia fought for autonomy. He fought for people with disabilities. Share with us why you fight for end-of-life choices: Who are you fighting for? #ADA join.compassionandchoices.org/a/why-we-fight

Bright yellow book cover for "Wisdom From a Chair Thirty Years of Quadriplegia" by Andrew I. Batavia and Mitchell Batavia. There is a drawing shaded in black of a person in a wheelchair. There is a windmill in the background.

His legacy lives on through the disability rights group Autonomy and his memoir "Wisdom from a Chair: Thirty Years of Quadriplegia". #booksky #DisabilityPrideMonth

Andrew Batavia is at the Department of Justice. He is wearing a suit and tie, and sits in a motorized wheelchair to the left of a large desk. Behind the desk sits U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh. Three men stand behind him and one woman stands to the right of the desk.

Andrew Batavia dedicated his life to fighting for bodily autonomy. He testified before Congress in support of the Americans with Disabilities Act and went on to help craft its regulations. He believed autonomy should extend to one's choices at the end of life too. #ADA

2025 Legislative Scorecard 1: Successful defense of medical aid in dying in Montana 2: Authorization bills passed in Delaware and New York 3: Campaigns remain active in California, Illinois and Massachusetts

Register today for the Compassion & Choices National Center for #MedicalAidInDying 's webinar, which celebrates our legislative wins, takes stock of our ongoing campaigns and previews what more can be done this year! join.compassionandchoices.org/a/natlweb072...

#HealthJustice #EndOfLifeOptions

Three women are standing close together and smiling at the camera. They all are wearing rainbow lanyards and have on face glitter. The woman standing in the front is hold a poster that says "I'm a New Yorker, and I believe in Medical Aid in Dying." There is a Compassion & Choices Action Network logo on the bottom right of the image.

New York’s #MedicalAidInDying Act sponsored by @amypaulin.bsky.social and @bradhoylmansigal.bsky.social, was passed by the Assembly in a historic 81-67 vote April 29 and then by the Senate on a 35-27 vote June 9. Urge Governor Hochul to sign this critical bill into law! bit.ly/3GwZmbx

A collage of 21 advocate photos from Delaware and New York. Several people pictured are speaking passionately into microphones and others are smiling happily at the camera.

2025 has been a landmark year for the #EndOfLife options movement, with both New York and Delaware passing #MedicalAidInDying legislation. These victories were made possible by the hard work and dedication of our advocates. Thank you for making history with us!

Photo of Dan Diaz speaking in front of a microphone and holding up a People magazine that has his late wife, Brittany Maynard, on the cover.

Quote by Dan Diaz that says "I made a promise to her, to do what I can to help pass legislation so no one else has to move from their home as we did. The passage of this law in our home state of California was step one. I will continue to work on this effort in honor of Brittany."

SB 403, the bill to make California's #EndOfLife Option Act permanent, passed the Senate and waits for the Assembly. This bill is a vital step in honoring Brittany Maynard’s legacy so no Californian is forced to leave their home, like she did, to access their chosen care.

Ready to make this compassionate law permanent in California? Join a local volunteer Action Team! join.compassionandchoices.org/VXSfYYbNZ0Wx...

Advocates in yellow shirts march outside with Dan Diaz to support end-of-life options in California. Dan and several advocates hold framed photos of loved ones.

California’s #EndOfLife Option Act has brought peace and autonomy to so many—but it’s set to expire in just five years. SB 403 would change that and make the law permanent. It’s time to protect this deeply personal option for good. #CALeg

Nilsa stands in front of a poster of Miguel with the quote "I love life. I simply want the option to die without suffering."

Miguel was a passionate advocate for medical aid in dying, but without the means to move to a state where it was legal, he died without the compassionate end-of-life option he so strongly believed in. Today, his mother Nilsa advocates for the Illinois End-of-Life Options Act to honor his legacy.

BREAKING: The #MedicalAidinDying Act (S.138) has passed in the NY State Senate!

With this historic vote, New Yorkers may soon have access to the full suite of #EndOfLifeCareOptions. The bill now moves to @governor.ny.gov‬'s desk to hopefully be signed into law!

#EndOfLifeChoices #HealthJustice

As Pam Naughton faced pancreatic cancer, she asked her husband, James, for help he couldn’t give. Since her passing, he has fought for the medical aid in dying option she wished for in their home state of Connecticut.

Photo of Dolores Huerta holding up a sign that says "End of Life Options for All". The photo is on top of a sunshine background.

Join our growing network of advocates and send a powerful message to lawmakers that they need to act now on legislation that upholds dignity, compassion and personal choice in life’s final stage. Join the action! Become a member today! join.compassionandchoices.org/a/ccan-membe...

🧵 1/4: We have great news! The Compassion & Choices and Compassion & Choices Action Network boards are delighted to announce that we have officially appointed Kevin Díaz as the president and CEO of both organizations.

#HealthJustice #EndOfLifeChoices

A woman smiles at the camera while holding up a poster cut to look like a frame. Words on the bottom of the poster say "Healthcare professionals stand with terminally ill New Yorkers! Pass the #MedicalAidInDying."

More than 60 medical, legal, and civic groups—including the New York State Academy of Family Physicians—support medical aid in dying. NYSAFP President Dr. Brilliant says “physicians have an obligation to relieve human suffering and care for our patients with compassion & respect for human dignity.”

A portrait photo of Naomi, wearing a green shirt and smiling at the camera while holding her head in one hand.

For Naomi, a 'good death' means providing patients with agency and empowering people to plan and advocate for an end of life experience that fulfills their wishes. You can help make this possible by contacting your lawmakers and urging them to pass NY's Medical Aid in Dying Act. buff.ly/3CJnPbT

A framed picture of Brittany Maynard in her wedding dress.

SB 403, the bill to make California’s End of Life Option Act permanent, has passed the Senate Appropriations Committee. This bill is a vital step in honoring Brittany Maynard’s legacy so no Californian is forced to leave their home, like she did, to access their chosen end-of-life care.

Alert in Illinois! SB 1950 was passed by the House and now moves to the Senate for concurrence.

The passage of SB1950 in the House is a significant victory—but the fight is far from over. Deb’s Law is now headed for a crucial concurrence vote in the Senate. We need your voice, now more than ever. Email your Senators and urge them to support this compassionate legislation.
bit.ly/3Z73FAy

A group of people wearing yellow shirts stand in front of a sign that reads "Tornado Shelter Area".

After last week’s tornado touched down in Springfield, advocates and lawmakers alike sought shelter from the storm. For too many Illinoisans, the storm is end-of-life suffering. They deserve options. Contact your IL lawmakers. Nature doesn’t wait—neither should we. bit.ly/42sjT9s

Photo of Stacey with quote "So that no one has to watch her once-vibrant husband starve to death."

Stacey advocates for medical aid in dying after her husband died without having this option. "I do not know what choice I personally will make when faced with my own death. What I do know though is that I want a choice." Tell NY legislators that you want to make your own choice too. buff.ly/3CJnPbT

Donna Smith and Daisy Orihuela from Compassion & Choices Action Network are at the Illinois capital awaiting a critical vote by the Illinois House on Deb’s Law (The End-of-Life Options Act).

Photo of Dr. Timothy with quote "So that doctors can respond to each person’s unique clinical circumstances using their values and preferences rather than the doctor’s own."

Dr. Timothy knows that even the best palliative care can’t always ease unbearable suffering. For some, just knowing medical aid in dying is an option brings peace. That’s why he supports the New York Medical Aid in Dying Act. Tell lawmakers why you support authorization in New York. buff.ly/3CJnPbT

Photo of Avery with quote "Because, while we didn’t have a lot to say about how we got here, each of us should have autonomy in our decisions about how we leave."

Avery was raised with an openness around discussing death. She is now a grief counselor and is helping to expand end-of-life options in her home state of New York. Tell lawmakers that New Yorkers should have a say in their end-of-life care. buff.ly/3CJnPbT

Andrew Flack sits on a couch between two people. They are all smiling at the camera. Andrew is wearing an Illinois State shirt.

Suzy's son Andrew could not die at home in Illinois, where he grew up, because it does not allow the option of medical aid in dying. Today Suzy urges lawmakers to pass The End-of-Life Options Act. You can help too. Use our form to email lawmakers your support. #IWantTheOption bit.ly/42sjT9s

A group photo in front of a poster of Miguel with the quote "I love life. I simply want the option to die without suffering."

Nilsa's son Miguel was a Chicago chef when diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. His pain in the last months was unbearable. Nilsa believes God would not want His children to suffer. Tell IL lawmakers to support medical aid in dying. #IWantTheOption join.compassionandchoices.org/a/il-bills-i...

Photo of Peggy with quote "Because requests for medical aid in dying are not a failure of hospice or palliative care, they are an opportunity to improve the end-of-life care experience."

Peggy and her mother had many conversations about her wishes. Despite being in hospice care, her end-of-life experience was marked by prolonged suffering, inadequate pain management and disregard for her wants. Tell NY lawmakers to honor our decisions. buff.ly/3CJnPbT

Susan is looking into the camera. She has on a yellow shirt. There is an American flag behind her.

Susan deserved the peace of knowing medical aid in dying was an option when she ran out of treatments. But she was denied that comfort because the legislature failed to act in time. Tell them to pass the NY's Medical Aid in Dying Act before it’s too late for someone else. buff.ly/3CJnPbT

Photo of Deb in bright track suit. She is smiling at the camera and standing in front of a bookcase.

Deb told the Illinois Senate: "Let me be clear--I love my life. I don't wanna die. And I love my family. ...It's the last bit of control that I have.” Tell IL lawmakers those bravely facing terminal illness deserve to make their own choice! join.compassionandchoices.org/a/il-bills-i...

Photo of Guillermo with quote "Because as a Catholic who respects other people’s faiths, I believe it’s not for anyone to stand in the way of this compassionate option being available for someone else."

Guillermo shares how his faith influences his decision to support medical aid in dying. "As a Catholic who respects other people’s faiths, I believe it is not for me to judge someone else." Tell NY lawmakers why they should not stop others from choosing this option. buff.ly/3CJnPbT

Photo of Florrie with quote "So that after more than 30 years of a vibrant life together, no one has to remember the final moments of a life well-lived as ones spent in agony."

"I want options. Poll after poll on this issue shows most New Yorkers feel the same way, so I encourage them to join me in telling our lawmakers, it’s time to pass the New York Medical Aid in Dying Act." Join Florrie. Tell your representative you want options. buff.ly/3CJnPbT