Six Years of Progress for Death with Dignity in New Jersey
This month marks six years since the New Jersey Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act took effect. On August 1, 2019, New Jersey became the eighth jurisdiction in the nation to enact a Death with Dignity law. In July of 2020, Dr. Robin Plumer started Compassionate Endings NJ, a private practice specializing in Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD). It still remains the only practice of its type in the state.
For the first 30 years of her career, Dr. Plumer served as an emergency physician. In 2017, she shifted her focus entirely to end-of-life care. Through her practice, she has been solely dedicated to supporting terminally ill patients who utilize MAiD. Since the end of 2024, 405 terminally ill patients in New Jersey have chosen to use Death with Dignity. Of those, 186 were under the care of Dr. Plumer and her team. So far this year, they have cared for an additional 45 patients.
To celebrate the six-year anniversary of New Jersey’s MAiD law, we spoke with Dr. Plumer about her experiences. The successes, the challenges, the inspiring stories, and the advice she has for clinicians in states where the law has only recently passed.
Looking back, what are some of the most meaningful successes you’ve seen since the New Jersey law was enacted in 2019?
Dr. Plumer: One of the most significant successes has been increased awareness of the law—though there is still a long way to go. Just today, I spoke with a newly graduated family medicine physician who had never heard of MAiD. In my experience, only about 60% of practitioners I talk to are familiar with the law, which means I spend a lot of time educating medical professionals. That said, I’m proud of the work we’ve done to spread the word. I regularly give lectures and speak at hospices, national meeetings, hospitals, and have participated in public media like CBS’s Eye on America with a recent documentary that followed one of my patients with ALS through the aid-in-dying process. The more we talk about this care, the more normalized and accessible it becomes.
What challenges have persisted or emerged over the past six years?
Dr. Plumer: The biggest challenge continues to be patient access. It’s still incredibly hard for people to find a physician willing to participate in physician-assisted dying, and many patients go to great lengths to locate my practice. That burden is unfair, especially when people are already navigating a terminal diagnosis. Legal threats haven’t disappeared either—there are still ongoing efforts to challenge the law through opposition legislation and lawsuits. One of the most heartbreaking obstacles is the mandatory 15-day waiting period. I’ve worked with patients who didn’t survive long enough to make it through the timeline, which is devastating for them and their families.
Residency requirements are another hurdle, but I believe shortening the waiting period is the more urgent priority. Another barrier remains in finding a location where people who do not wish to die at home can ingest the MAiD medications. For example, there are only four inpatient hospices in New Jersey, and just one permits aid-in-dying medication to be taken on site. People should be able to die where they want, and not be stymied by institutional policies that do not acknowledge the MAiD law in NJ. I believe we need a network of safe, comfortable spaces, where dying patients can spend their final moments with dignity and in control.
What inspired you to launch a medical aid in dying-specific practice?
Dr. Plumer: Before founding this practice, I worked in emergency medicine, where I saw far too many bad deaths—chaotic, traumatic, and stripped of dignity. When New Jersey passed their law six years ago, I knew I had to be part of this work. It’s an honor and a privilege to help people die peacefully, surrounded by their families. The experience is deeply moving—tragically beautiful, but also filled with grace. Most families are incredibly supportive. It’s beautiful to witness someone have the opportunity to say goodbye on their own terms.
My partners, Dr. Sondra Dantzic, Elizabeth Stanton, and I have attended nearly 250 deaths since my practice began in 2020. One of us is present at every death. We treat this sacred event with the gravity it deserves. Though the process itself is not medically complex, the emotional and logistical stakes are incredibly high. We plan meticulously to avoid complications and keep technical issues in our hands, so families can focus entirely on being present and emotionally focused on their loved one.
Are there any patient stories that have stayed with you—moments that reflect the impact of this law on New Jersey families and loved ones?
Dr. Plumer: So many stories stay with me. One that touched many was Barbara Goodfriend, a patient featured in a CBS documentary. Her generosity in sharing her journey helped raise awareness of MAiD in a powerful way.
I also recently worked with a 51-year-old man with ALS. His disease started in his feet and eventually affected his ability to breathe and swallow. After careful thought, he bravely included his teenage children in the process so they wouldn’t feel left out. As he was lifted from his wheelchair to the bed, he joked, “I’m so glad that’s the last time I’ll be in that effing chair.” Surrounded by his entire family cuddled on his bed, he took the medication and died peacefully.
I have learned that all patients who choose MAiD are fiercely independent. Illness may have robbed them of control over their bodies, but this law gives them back some autonomy. After learning of the MAiD option, patients often describe as a “weight being lifted off [their] chest.”
There are poignant moments too, filled with humor and defiance. Another patient of mine with ALS, who had lost hand function, requested after the medication was self-administered via his PEG tube, that his wife lift his hand with the middle finger raised. At the same time, he played the epic Meat Loaf song, “Bat Out of Hell” loudly on the stereo. It was his way of giving a final message to ALS. Sometimes there are moments of laughter amidst the grief of saying goodbye.
Another patient, a vivacious 97-year-old woman, had lived in the same house for 50 years. The night before her MAiD day, she asked her grandson to bring down a box from the attic. It turned out to be her wedding dress. When I arrived the next day, she was sitting up in her hospital bed, wearing the dress, her arms tucked through the sleeves, veil on, holding a bouquet of flowers. She looked at me with a radiant smile and said, “I’m going to meet my groom.” It was incredibly moving and such a remarkably beautiful moment for all of us to witness.
What advice would you give to clinicians in states that have recently passed medical aid in dying laws?
Dr. Plumer: First and foremost, collaborate with other physicians who have experience in this field. Seek out training through organizations like the Academy of Aid-in-Dying Medicine (AADM). This work is about more than writing a prescription, it’s about caring for someone at the most vulnerable moment of their life.
It’s also essential for physicians to be available for families. In many cases, we’ll have 10-15 calls from loved ones with questions in the week before someone’s MAiD day. They need support just as much as the patient. Get educated, develop safety protocols, and always prepare for what could go wrong. This practice demands thorough planning and a deep sense of compassion—but it is one of the most rewarding fields I have ever worked in.
Advocacy in Action: Protecting Patient Access to End-of-Life Options
As more states pass aid-in-dying laws, Dr. Plumer’s experience offers a valuable and deeply human perspective, not just on what’s possible when terminally ill patients are empowered to make their own end-of-life decisions, but also on the vital role physicians play in honoring those choices with clarity and care. Her experience reminds us that MAiD is both a legal option and a meaningful extension of patient-centered care, where dignity, comfort, and autonomy come first.
We’ve been fortunate to partner with Dr. Plumer in a variety of efforts. She helped deliver more than 10,000 petitions to the DEA opposing proposed changes that would have forced terminally ill patients to meet physicians in-person to receive their pain medication; rules that, for now, will remain flexible thanks to the power of our supporters. We also spoke with her last year about ongoing opposition efforts, including repeated attempts to weaken or repeal the law, all of which we’ve successfully defeated year after year.
Help Grow the Movement for End-of-Life Autonomy
If you were inspired by Dr. Plumer’s story, please share this with someone in your community who values dignity at the end of life. Every conversation, every shared story, and every raised voice helps protect and strengthen the right to MAiD for all terminally ill patients.