‘Aid-in-dying’ legislation fails again

Sen. Gary Winfield conceded the bill doesn't have enough votes to pass the Judiciary Committee today.

News 12 Staff

Apr 19, 2023, 6:15 PM

Updated 604 days ago

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Lawmakers have once again defeated a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to end their lives.
Sen. Gary Winfield conceded the bill doesn't have enough votes to pass the Judiciary Committee Wednesday.
Aid-in-dying bills have previously failed 15 times in Connecticut. Ten states and Washington, D.C. already allow medical aid-in-dying.
The Legislature's Judiciary Committee defeated the plan Wednesday over concerns that patients could be pressured to end their own lives.
"It is beyond disappointing that the Judiciary Committee did not advance legislation to give terminally ill people the option to end unbearable suffering at the end of life, when we know it has widespread support from an overwhelming majority of Connecticut voters," Tim Appleton of Compassion & Choices Action Network said in a statement. "Today’s failure to pass the legislation in the Committee will deprive supporters of a vote in the House and Senate, where we believe it had a strong likelihood of passage. It is also devastating for terminally ill advocates who shared their stories with lawmakers, and for whom another legislative session will come too late."
"It is disappointing to see medical aid in dying will again not pass out of the Judiciary Committee, ending the legislation's consideration in Connecticut this year," state Sen. Saud Anwar said in a statement. "I hoped the legislation would receive a thorough and meaningful debate in the House and Senate. While I understand the arguments and opposition against this bill, I also recognize that our failure to pass this bill will prevent a number of Connecticut residents from having autonomy in their end of life choices. It is not lost on me that an increasing number of family members testify in support of the legislation each year because their loved ones lose their battles with illness. I am hopeful that in the future, we can finally pass this bill and provide additional end-of-life options for those seeking them."