Dear Florida State Legislators:

Please support a Death with Dignity bill to provide all Floridians with this important end-of-life option.

Such a bill, modeled on the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, would allow qualified, terminally-ill adult residents of Florida to get a prescription from their doctor for medications to end their life peacefully, in a dignified way, at the place and time of their choosing. The bill would establish stringent procedures and tough safeguards that have been proven safe and effective in providing peace of mind and control for the terminally ill.

Since passing in Oregon in 1997, laws have passed in Washington, Vermont, California, Colorado, Washington DC, Hawai'i, New Jersey and Maine.

Death with Dignity laws have safely and effectively given terminally ill people more freedom and control, more choices, and a greater piece of mind when it matters most.

I am one of 7 in 10 Americans who believe terminally ill people should have this option. If I suffer from a terminal illness and will have less than 6 months to live, I want to be alert, spend time with my loved ones, and make my own decisions.

It should be my decision to hasten my own death under difficult circumstances. This is what the law would provide.

I call on you to support a Death with Dignity bill for terminally ill, adult Floridians.