Make Your Voice Heard New Hampshire Residents and Vermonters

A medical aid in dying law similar to Vermont’s Act 39 has been introduced in the New Hampshire legislature. A hearing is scheduled before the NH House Judiciary Committee on February 7.  

Make your voice heard! Legislators need to hear from all New Hampshire residents who want to have the option of medical aid in dying in their own state. They also need to learn that Act 39 in Vermont works well and that the fears of opponents of medical aid in dying have not come to pass. Finally, they need to know that Vermont residents who receive their medical care in New Hampshire want this option legalized in New Hampshire. Here’s how to submit written testimony.

Open the Online Submission Form:

1. Add your Personal Information.
2. Select February 7 as the Date of the Hearing.
3. Select House Judiciary Committee.
4. Select Bill Number HB 1283, relative to end of life options.
5. Add your Testimony of up to 600 words typed into the form or as a PDF file uploaded. 

In your testimony, explain why you support the bill and why it is important for people in NH to have the option of medical aid in dying. Briefly relate any relevant personal experience. Here are a few examples:

NH Resident Example:
I am a cancer survivor. Fortunately, the cancer is in remission, but I know that it could come back at any time. When the time comes that treatments are no longer possible or would be very debilitating with very little time remaining regardless, I will want the option of medical aid in dying. All New Hampshire residents deserve to be able to choose how they want to live and die, according to their own values and beliefs. Having medical aid in dying as an option would give me great comfort and help enable me to live my remaining months or weeks in the most life-affirming way possible. It is time for New Hampshire to recognize, along with Maine and Vermont, that medical aid in dying is a legitimate choice.

Example for Vermonter Receiving Care at DHMC:
I am a patient of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, residing in Vermont. We Vermonters have had very sound experience with medical aid in dying under Vermont’s Act 39. New Hampshire licensed doctors at DHMC cannot prescribe in Vermont unless they are also licensed in Vermont. I have a strong relationship with my doctors at DHMC and I want them to be able to assist me with medical aid in dying should I be diagnosed with a terminal illness and decide to pursue that option. Our medical system crosses states lines, and it is time for New Hampshire to recognize, along with Maine and Vermont, that medical aid in dying is a legitimate choice.

Vermonter General Example:
I am a Vermonter where we have ten years of experience with Vermont's Act 39, a law that is similar to the bill before you. I have several friends who have considered or used medical aid in dying and I have to tell you that they and their families were extremely grateful to live in a state where their personal decisions at end-of-life were respected. They deeply appreciated being able to openly discuss all their concerns values and care options in private with their doctors. You will hear from many people who believe on religious grounds that medical aid in dying should not be available or that it will lead to abuse of the elderly or disabled. There has not been a single complaint of this kind in the ten years that Vermont's Act 39 has been in place. Please listen to those who have actual experience with medical aid in dying. It is time for New Hampshire to recognize, along with Maine and Vermont, that medical aid in dying is a legitimate choice.

Request for Assistance in Research
From time to time, PCV assists researchers who are studying various aspects of medical aid in dying. Currently, a researcher who is working on a Doctorate in Psychology is seeking participants for a study. Please read her notice below and contact her directly if you can participate.

Did your parent choose Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)?
Would you be willing to share your experiences for a research project?

My name is Jeanne-Marie Rimlinger and I am a doctoral candidate at California Southern University, and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York State. I am researching the experiences of adult children who have a parent who chose MAID. Your responses will help to increase understanding about MAID and the specific experiences of adult children with a parent who chose MAID.

If you would be willing to meet with me online (Zoom) for approximately 30-45 minutes and answer questions about your experiences, please contact me at:
[email protected]
518-391-3719
All of your responses will be confidential. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.

PCV Community Presentation in Montpelier 
We are pleased to announce that PCV Board Co-chair Toni Kaeding, MS RN, will be presenting and leading a discussion on medical aid in dying on Wednesday, February 14, at 1:30pm at the Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre Street.

Medical Aid in Dying: What It Is and What It Isn’t
Sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
Click for more information and registration. OLLI requests an $8 fee. For registration questions, please call 802-656-8407 or email [email protected] during office hours (M-F, 8:30AM - 4:00PM).

All of PCV's community discussions are life-affirming and empowering. Our presenters always include personal experiences as they delve into how medical aid in dying works and how it fits into the continuum of care that an individual may choose. There will be opportunities to share stories, ask questions and learn more about how to discuss your values and preferences with you doctor, your family and others who may be involved in your care.

Feel free to contact us if you would like to organize a presentation in your community.