Compassion & Choices

In June, opponents of medical aid in dying filed federal lawsuits seeking to block New York’s and Illinois’ new laws — the latest in an ongoing nationwide effort to roll back end-of-life autonomy.  Compassion & Choices expected these legal challenges, and with the help of longtime advocates for medical aid in dying, we are jumping...

In August 2026, New York’s medical aid-in-dying law is set to take effect, followed closely by Illinois in September. Delaware’s new law went into effect in January of this year.  But as we’ve seen in other states that have passed medical aid-in-dying legislation, laws alone don’t guarantee access for the people who need them. At...

Every year, Medicare updates the rules that govern hospice care: how it’s paid for, what it covers, and how quality is measured. And every year, Compassion & Choices monitors those proposed changes to be sure they strengthen patient-directed end-of-life care. When they don’t, we take action.  This spring, Compassion & Choices’ Chief Legal Advocacy Officer,...

The movement to make medical aid in dying part of the gold standard of fully-informed, patient-directed end-of-life care is growing stronger every year, and 2026 has been no exception. This has been a legislative season of expanding reach and deepening roots. Medical aid-in-dying bills were active in 15 states, from Georgia to Wisconsin. Some advanced...

By Nikki Sapiro Vinckier, PA-C Nikki Sapiro Vinckier is an OB/GYN physician associate, author of We Deserve More, reproductive health advocate, and plaintiff in Koskenoja v. Whitmer. She lives in Michigan with her family and works to advance patient autonomy and healthcare access. There are days when it feels like nothing changes. The news is...