Current Status
An Act Concerning Aid in Dying, HB 6425, was introduced on February 10, 2021, and referred to the Public Health Committee. The bill moved out of committee with overwhelming support (24 to 9) on March 5, 2021 (tally sheet) before stalling.
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Resources
Connecticut General Assembly website
Endorsements
In February 2019, the Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS) changed its position on aid-in-dying legislation from opposed to that of engaged neutrality.
The CSMS is committed to protecting its members’ freedom to decide what medical aid-in-dying options to provide to patients in accordance with each physician’s personally held values, beliefs and ethical standards, including the decision whether or not to write a prescription for a lethal dose of medication, if legalized in Connecticut.
History
2020
A death with dignity bill was introduced, but did not advance.
- Full text of HB 5420, An Act Concerning Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients
- Legislative history of HB 5420
- Introduced March 2, 2020
- Referred to Joint Committee on Public Health
2019
A death with dignity bill was introduced, but did not advance.
- Full text of HB 5898, An Act Concerning Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients
- Legislative history of HB 5898
- Introduced on January 23, 2019
- Referred to the Joint Committee on Public Health
2018
A death with dignity bill was introduced, but did not advance.
- Legislative History of HB 5417, An Act Concerning End-of-Life Care
- Introduced on March 2, 2018.
- Referred to the Joint Committee on Public Health
Pre-2018
The first attempts to pass physician-assisted dying bills in Connecticut took place in 1995 (HB 6928, SB 334) and 1997 (HB 6083), at the time Oregon was considering its own Death with Dignity Act.
After Washington passed the second Death with Dignity statute in the nation in 2008, the issue returned to the Connecticut legislature in 2009 (SB 1138).
Bills considered in the subsequent years received Committee hearings but were not put up for a vote:
- 2017: Representative Jonathan Steinberg (D) introduced HB 6024, An Act Concerning Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients, on January 19, 2017. The bill was referred to the Joint Committee on Public Health.
- 2015: HB 7015, An Act Concerning Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients, sponsored by 3 Senators and 13 Representatives.
- 2014: HB 5326, An Act Concerning Compassionate Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients, sponsored by Representative Betsy Ritter. Its companion bill was sponsored by Senator Edward Meyer.
- 2013: HB 6217, An Act Concerning Death with Dignity, and SB 48, An Act Concerning Physician-Assisted Suicide.
