The New Jersey Assembly on Thursday voted 41-31-0 to approve the New Jersey Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act, which Assembly Democrats John Burzichelli and Tim Eustace sponsored to create a process for terminally ill patients who wish for medicinal assistance to end their lives.
“The Agudath Israel New Jersey office is deeply distressed over today’s vote in the New Jersey Assembly on The Aid in Dying Act which passed assembly by a 41 – 31 vote,” Agudath Israel said today. “This bill will allow qualified terminally ill patients to self-administer medication to end their life, or simply put will legalize suicide.”
“As the bills heads to the New Jersey State Senate, Agudath Israel will continue to vigorously oppose this bill.”
A number of Senators have committed their opposition, says Agudah, “but the vote today vote demonstrates the importance of every vote as well as the need for an intensive grassroots effort to make an impression upon the maximum number of senators.”
[TLS]
I think this is a good move.
You wouldn’t let an animal suffer and humanely euthanize it .How much more is a human life worth?
I have worked for hospice for 2 years and have seen suffering beyond what I would tolerate.
I should be a personal decision to end your life if suffering is intolerable and there is no hope for a cure.
The problem of euthanasia is the ma’asa. A victim’s consent does not negate the ma’asa r’tzicha. True euthanasia, in which the doctor does the ma’asa, is criminal. This, however, says self-adminstered, meaning, the rotza’ach will no longer be alive.
From an aku”m point of view, why should suicide NOT be legal if the person is old, sick or whatever ? Its not like they believe every second on this world is a Tikun for the Neshama, so, why not ? Im curious why 31 voted against !!
they voted against it because some people still have a conscience, what is going to happen when someone is caring for a patient and the situation allows for them to be persuaded to end their life to anothers enrichment (not necessarily a family member), or a hospital requires doctors to counsel their patients against their beliefs about this option to save money, or how long before terminally-ill has some gray areas of interpretation…
To NotSoFast – I actually initially agreed w Coomand Post but what u say makes sense. Thanx for clearing that up for me. U didnt have to snap off a conciense Shtech but we understand.
this law is evil.
many rabbanim including r shmuel Kaminski said this is to be deemed as murder.
in fact it’s pashut that if this vote would take place on shabbos a Jew could be Michalel shabbos to vote against it
Bad law, Christie has vowed to veto.
Will have to wait a couple more years until it could possibly become law.
In a recent article in Canadian Medical Association Journal, Tom Koch discussed the Polio epidemic in the 1950s. He noted how everyone scrambled to save every life. Gymnasiums were turned into wards and cots were lined up from wall to wall. Steel lung machines were made and people were kept alive in these big negative pressure boxes. It was an imperative to save as many lives as possible. Nobody considered the costs or the quality of life of the people that were saved. He laments that in todays society the polio victims would be counseled against seeking treatment and most would die.
There is often a drift in values that would have been unthinkable has become the norm.
The same who are promoting this, are the same promoting against capital punishment (who are we to take life?)
Jacob Levy- you make a very good point about the polio situation.
It is not mandatory that you take your life if the end is near and you chose not to suffer any further and put your loved ones through the agony of watching you die a painful death. It is the option of the individual. There must be a diagnosis by two doctors agreeing that the individual is terminally ill and will die soon. The patient must be mentally alert and no one can make the decision for them. If ones religion or personal beliefs oppose it, they will not do it. If a doctor is opposed to self administered suicide, they do not have to participate. I have seen many people suffer a slow agonizing death. While I cannot do it because of my religious beliefs, I am not opposed to the law.
Ifknewthen: once its alowed you dont think doctors will counsel their patients into doing something which may be against their beliefs, but their faith may not be not be as strong as yours? I was in a hospital recently i had all my plans what i was going to ask for etc. Within a half hour everything i believed in was done with and i was basicaly doing anything the doc. Suggested!! up to the patient like a hole in my head!!