Compassion & Choices Action Network

Compassion & Choices National Center for Medical Aid in Dying — M.A.I.D. In The U.S.A. — is celebrating our legislative wins and taking stock of our ongoing campaigns, now that most state… M.A.I.D. in '25: National Center for Medical Aid in Dying Legislative Scorecard

The 2025 legislative session came with many wins! We defended medical aid in dying in Montana, authorized it in Delaware and passed it in both the New York Assembly and Senate! 🙌 Join us in celebrating progress & looking ahead to 2026. 🎥 Watch the recap:

🥳We did it, Illinois! Governor Pritzker just signed The Illinois End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act (SB 1950), aka Deb’s Law, into law! ✍️

This makes Illinois the 13th U.S. jurisdiction to affirm the rights of terminally ill adults to die peacefully on their own terms.

Florida expert urges shift in how we talk about end-of-life care | The Apopka Voice - The Apopka Voice As National Hospice and Palliative Care Month is observed, Florida palliative care specialist Lolita Melhado says it’s time to reframe how we approach end-of-life conversations. She’s promoting a new…

A new online certificate program trains health professionals in how to lead early, open end-of-life conversations so patients’ values guide medical decisions during serious illness or crisis. #PalliativeCare #aging

For #GivingTuesday, we’re sharing a moving story about choice, love, and dignity at the end of life.

Her words offer a powerful reminder of why compassionate options matter.

https://ow.ly/XLYi50XvMbF

Now that its sunset clause was removed, California’s End of Life Option Act is here to stay. California's End of Life Option Act is now permanent. Learn about its history, impact, and the fight to make medical aid-in-dying a right.

SB 403 made California’s End of Life Option Act permanent, ensuring terminally ill Californians can rely on this compassionate choice. Bill Monning reflects on the path to lasting protection. #MedicalAidinDying

We are thrilled to share that the Illinois End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act has passed the state senate and is now on the way to @govpritzker ’s desk to be signed into law.

There is a 'Welcome to Montana' sign in front of a landscape of brown hills and an open sky. Text says "83% of Montana voters support the right to medical aid in dying. 88% of Montanan Democrats 80% of Montanan Republicans. 84% of MT Independents and other parties." There is a Compassion & Choices Action Network logo.

(3/3) 83% of Montana voters support the state's legal option of medical aid in dying. Are you one of them? Join us in protecting this freedom.
join.compassionandchoices.org/a/ccan-membe...
#MedicalAidInDying #HealthJustice #BodilyAutonomy

Quote from Beth Madden, Shannon Swanson's widow, which says "Privacy, autonomy and dignity in life and death are such important tenets of Montana’s constitution and culture. Terminally ill individuals should be able to count on this humane option."

Close-up photo of Beth Madden smiling. She has curly silver hair and is wearing a black turtleneck and grey earrings.

(2/3) 🏛️ Baxter v. Montana authorized medical aid in dying for Montanans in 2009, but Shannon's wife Beth is saddened "to know that each legislative session this important option is challenged in Montana" despite the overwhelming support for this right.

Quote by Beth Madden, widow of Shannon Swanson, that says: "Shannon knew it would get unbearable and wanted desperately to have some lawful option to end his suffering. The inability to control his destiny compounded his suffering. He had the finest hospice care during his advanced stages, yet he suffered mightily."

(1/3) Shannon was a veteran, biologist, firefighter, hunter, family man and proud Montanan. Shannon died in 2007, when MT law did not protect physicians who prescribed aid-in-dying medications. He was heartbroken that lawmakers did not trust him to decide what dignity looked like in his final days.

A group of people stand behind an indoor barricade. They hold a variety of signs supporting medical aid in dying. One says "Death is inevitable. Suffering doesn't have to be." Another sign says "Pass Medical Aid In Dying."

The NY Medical Aid in Dying Act has broad support from lawmakers, voters & civic groups. Now it’s time for @governor.ny.gov to lead with love and sign it into law. ✍️ Add your voice! #MedicalAidInDying #HealthJustice bit.ly/41lpugR

Starting the End-of-Life Care Conversation with your Healthcare Provider - Compassion & Choices For resources to document your end-of-life wishes please click here

Every person has different values and priorities. Regardless of your current health status, your primary care provider should know your wishes. If you haven't already discussed end-of-life issues with your provider, now is the time. #EndOfLifeChoices #EndOfLifePlanning

How ‘The Pitt’ Gets Death Right The show’s unusually nuanced, realistic depiction of end-of-life decisions has already had a real-world impact.

Congratulations to The Pitt for its Emmy wins! The show boldly tackles a range of end-of-life topics, reminding us that portraying accurate information on-screen can positively impact real lives. www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-featur...

#AdvanceDirectives #EndOfLifeDecisions #2025EmmyAwards

Are Florida lawmakers ignoring public demand for Medical Aid in Dying? | Opinion The public is not confused. They want a compassionate, regulated end-of-life option. | Opinion

The public is not confused. They want a compassionate, regulated end-of-life option. | Opinion

Two men are smiling and holding a sign. One is wearing a doctor's coat with a yellow tie and the other is wearing a yellow shirt with the Compassion & Choices logo. The sign says "Medical Aid In Dying. Peace. Compassion. Love. Joy. Autonomy. Empowerment. Celebration. Peace of Mind."

NY's Medical Aid in Dying Act is supported by more than 60 statewide and local orgs. With these trusted voices in health, law and faith, it is time for @governor.ny.gov to listen and sign this compassionate bill into law. Add your name today! bit.ly/41lpugR
#MedicalAidInDying #HealthJustice

Front view of the U.S. Supreme Court building with its grand marble steps and Corinthian columns.

SCOTUS ruled Medicaid enrollees can’t challenge harmful care restrictions.
This threatens access to trusted hospice, home health and palliative care providers. Read more: compassionandchoices.org/news/supreme...

#SCOTUS #Medicaid #EndOfLifeCare #PatientRights

FAQs about New York's Medical Aid In Dying Act - still awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature. #NYleg saratogatodaynewspaper.com/the-basics-o...

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...