Terminally ill Ohioans deserve the freedom to choose Medical Aid in Dying as an end-of-life option.
Ohio Legislators
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Terminally ill, mentally competent adults deserve the right to have access to ALL end-of-life options, but Ohio DOES NOT have a medical aid-in-dying law. To end this injustice, we are building the largest ever public record of support for a medical aid-in-dying law in Ohio.
We strongly support hospice and palliative care and encourage enrollment. However, for some people, that is not enough. Integrating a medical aid-in-dying option at the end of life demonstrates compassion and honors patient-centered end-of-life care and personal autonomy.
Your signature will be your voice in Columbus as Ohio End of Life Options works to raise awareness, educate legislators and advocate on behalf of the terminally ill to have access to medical aid-in-dying as an end-of-life option in Ohio.
General Safeguards Provided in Current Laws:
- A diagnosis of death within 6 months, the same standard as hospice.
- Two oral requests separated by a waiting period, and one written request witnessed by two people, one of whom must not be an heir or family member.
- A psychological evaluation should the physician suspect impaired decision-making.
- A second opinion of the diagnosis and mental health condition.
- Physicians must share information about all forms of treatment and end-of-life care options, including hospice and palliative care.
- The patient must self-administer the medication.
- A patient may rescind the request at any time.
- Healthcare professionals may refuse to participate.
**This petition is an issue awareness campaign. Ohio End of Life Options will share this petition with your legislators and let them know that you support access to medical aid-in-dying for terminally ill Ohioans. Your signature does not constitute support for an issue ballot measure in the state of Ohio.**
Sponsored by
To:
Ohio Legislators
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Ohio Legislator,
In the United States, there are ten states and DC that allow their citizens the freedom to make their own end-of-life decisions. It's time for Ohio to show compassion with a passage of a safe medical aid in dying law! I support quality of life and know that hospice and palliative care are 100% compatible with an aid-in-dying option. A dying person's quality of life shouldn't be dependent on their zip code.
Such a bill, modeled on the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, in effect for over 20 years now, would allow competent, terminally-ill Ohioans with less than six months to live, the option to obtain a prescription from their doctor for medications to end their lives peacefully, at the place and time of their choosing.
The bill would establish stringent procedures and tough safeguards that have proven safe and effective in eleven jurisdictions.
1. Two doctors must verify a terminal diagnosis with less than six months to live.
2. The patient is seeking the prescription voluntarily. No one can make a request on someone else's behalf.
3. The patient is mentally competent able to take the medication on their own.
Seven in ten Ohioans, including me, believe that terminally ill people should have access to ALL end-of-life options, including medical aid in dying, according to a May 2018 survey of Ohio voters. This law would give Ohioans more freedom and peace of mind when they face inevitable death.
Currently, one in five Americans has access to this option. It's time for Ohio too!