Sarah Grace
As discussed at the start of this chapter, the concepts of “dying with dignity” or “death with dignity” are closely connected to the quality and autonomy of the dying process. In the United States, these terms have become widely associated with the right-to-die movement, which emphasizes personal choice in end-of-life care. The organization Death with Dignity (DWD) is a leading U.S.-based advocate for the right to physician-assisted death, providing education, resources, and advocacy for terminally ill patients seeking control over their end-of-life decisions. The organization’s focus is on the right to a “good death,” defined by personal choice, whether it involves natural death or medically assisted options, where legally available.
There are now eleven (11) jurisdictions that have authorized the use of medical aid in dying, including: Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont, California, Colorado, Washington D.C., Hawai’i, New Jersey, Maine, and now, New Mexico.
from https://endoflifeoptionsnm.org/about-us/our-history/
Death with Dignity also works to address challenges in accessing aid-in-dying services. In the U.S., religious and non-secular healthcare institutions, such as some hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities, may choose not to provide or allow medical aid in dying (MAiD) services on their premises. Consequently, patients in fragile, end-of-life states may need to be transferred to facilities or private homes that permit MAiD. In states where Death with Dignity laws are enacted, initiatives are underway to provide MAiD options in compassionate, home-like settings for those who cannot receive such services at their primary residence or preferred care facility. For instance, some states have adopted approaches that support hospice services to offer a more comforting, patient-centered environment for those choosing MAiD (Death with Dignity National Center, 2022).
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