Advocates push Connecticut lawmakers for ‘aid in dying’ legislation

A group of advocates is pushing to make Connecticut the next state to allow the practice of aid-in-dying, also known as medical assistance in dying, but they may already be running out of time this session.  

The push comes as New York became the 13th state to allow aid-in-dying after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law late last week.  

A coalition called Compassion and Choices has been airing short films around the state, followed by discussions on the topic, in hopes of winning over more support.  

Advocate Deltra James is a regular panelist, talking about her experience coaching people preparing for the end of their life as a death doula.  

“What I see often is not so much a fear of the act of dying, but it’s a lot of fear around suffering and how they might die,” James said.

She said she sometimes helps healthy people with estate planning, but other clients are looking for support in their final days.  

Deltra was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and was initially given just three years to live.  

After her diagnosis, she decided to become an advocate for others and discovered being a doula.  

She’s among the advocates hoping to see the legislature revisit the issue. Lawmakers have tried and failed several times to allow aid-in-dying before pausing for the last few years.  

Sen. Gary Winfield (D-New Haven) supports the idea but isn’t sure the legislature will have enough time.  

The co-chair of the Judiciary Committee noted the body will need to take up several judicial nominations. He also expects possible bills on hot-button issues like gun control and immigration.  

“The number of days is short, and as much as I’m interested in the issue, I don’t know that we’ll have the actual time for it,” he said.  

Some critics remain staunchly opposed.  

“It doesn’t speak well for us as a society, we should be respecting life, we should be protecting life,” Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference Executive Director Chris Healy said.  

Healy remains opposed on moral grounds, but he raised concerns about Canada’s experience with medical assistance in death.  

Health Canada reported just 1,018 deaths in 2016, when it was first legal, but a November report said there were 16,499 deaths in 2024. That accounts for roughly 1 in 20 deaths.  

Media reports indicate most of the deaths were for patients with a terminal diagnosis, but some patients cited depression or mental health issues as their reason.  

“In the goodness of our hearts, we shouldn’t be turning into this, sort of, cruel culture of death that infects our society today,” Healy said.  

James and others note that past proposals in Connecticut have included strict restrictions, such as requiring that someone be a Connecticut resident, at least 21 years old, and have a prognosis of six months or less to live.  

James also said people are free to live according to their moral beliefs, but she does not think that should be the basis for laws limiting other people’s choices.  

“It’s deeply uncomfortable that somebody else is comfortable with my suffering, or with other people’s suffering,” she said.