HARTFORD, Conn. — A public hearing was held today on an "aid in dying" bill, which if passed, would allow terminally ill adults to get a prescription for medication that would end their life.
The Connecticut General Assembly has considered similar bills five different times since 2013, although none have made it past the House floor.
Previously proposed bills have drawn hundreds of public comments from the community.
This legislation would apply to adults who have less than six months to live. The bill has been extremely controversial across the state.
Kira Phillips has been vocal in support of this bill passing. Philips said her mother battled cancer on and off for years and in her final months was in extreme pain.
"I feel like I owe it to my mom to help pass this bill now because it’s something she would have wanted," Philips said.
Philips said her family wishes this bill was in place last year to save them from the traumatic experience they went through.
"I want my freedom to end my life when and how I choose," said Herb Hoffman. He has terminal cancer and was one of the more than 100 people speaking out in the emotional hearing. He is also the father of Kim Hoffman, who passed away last month, also from cancer. Kim was also a long-time supporter of the bill.
"She was uncomfortable and in pain. It's not how she wanted to die," said Joy Cipollo, Kim's wife. "She fought so hard for this bill so she could go on her terms and not put herself and her family through this trauma."
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However, opponents of this bill also spoke out, saying every time this bill is proposed they testify against it.
"I see it as a dangerous option that devalues people's lives with disabilities," Cathy Ludlum, an opponent to the bill, said.
Opponents of the bill wrote testimonies to the legislature. One of the opponents, who is a retired registered nurse, said in part, “suicide is defined as ‘killing oneself intentionally’ and legalizing the act for one who is supposedly terminally ill is still suicide.”
"During a mental health crisis like we've never seen before, this is the wrong time to be proposing suicide as the answer," Ludlum said.
"This bill will incentify suicide as a treatment to reduce health insurance," said State Rep. Mark Anderson (R-62). He went on to discuss the bill and what it would mean for patients and doctors. "A doctor does not know when someone has six months to live. It is a guess," said Anderson.
Another opponent wrote about her brother and husband passing from long-term illnesses, saying in part, “I know all too well the pain of loss, grief and forgiveness, and the complex emotions which can include anger but never to the point of ending a life…this bill is inherently wrong. There is too much room for error, leading to unnecessary conflict and guilt for families and among medical staff.”
However, supporters of the bill continued to stress its importance.
"Each person that is opposed to this bill is just one unpleasant death away from becoming a proponent of this bill," said Sen. Saud Anwar (D-3). Anwar is also a pulmonary care physician and also serves as chair of the Department of Internal Medicine for Manchester Memorial and Rockville General Hospitals.
Similar legislation is legal in nine states and Washington D.C., including Maine, Vermont, and New Jersey.
Lindsey Kane is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at Lkane@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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