22 Apr Medical Society president weighs in on NJ aid-in-dying bill, taking effect Aug. 1
On Aug. 1, New Jersey will become the latest state to allow terminally ill patients to request a doctor to prescribe a lethal dosage of medication in order to end their own lives.
With the passage of the “Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act,” New Jersey will join California, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Washington, D.C., which permit physicians to engage in this activity.
Dr. Marc Levine, president of the Medical Society of New Jersey, issued a statement on the new law.
Dr. Mark Levine will serve as the Medical Society of New Jersey’s 227th president. – MEDICAL SOCIETY OF NEW JERSEY
“MSNJ remains opposed to physicians hastening the death of a patient. Effective Aug. 1, the New Jersey Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act permits physicians to engage in this activity. Importantly, the law does not compel physicians to provide medical aid in dying. Regulations implementing this law have yet to be promulgated.”