Lawmakers Pass Bill to Legalize Assisted Suicide in NJ

(Patch) – New Jersey moved much closer to legalizing assisted suicide on Monday, with lawmakers passing a bill that creates a process for terminally ill patients with less than six months to live to seek medical assistance to end their lives.

The Assembly passed the bill by a 41-33 vote, while the Senate voted 21-16 in favor. Gov. Phil Murphy needs to sign the bill for it to become law, and the governor signaled that he will.

“Allowing terminally ill and dying residents the dignity to make end-of-life decisions according to their own consciences is the right thing to do,” he said after the vote. “I look forward to signing this legislation into law.” CONTINUE