New Jersey

Overview

New Jersey's Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act was signed by Governor Phil Murphy on April 12, 2019 and took effect August 1, 2019. New Jersey became the eighth US jurisdiction to permit medical aid in dying. The law follows the standard Oregon model with a 15-day waiting period between oral requests.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a New Jersey resident
• Must be 18 or older
• Must have a terminal illness with a prognosis of 6 months or less
• Must have decision-making capacity
• Two oral requests at least 15 days apart
• One written request with two witnesses
• Two physicians confirm eligibility
• If either physician believes the patient may have a psychiatric condition affecting judgment, they must refer the patient for a mental health evaluation

Key Resources

• New Jersey Department of Health — nj.gov/health
• Death with Dignity NJ — deathwithdignity.org/states/new-jersey
• Compassion & Choices — compassionandchoices.org

Legal Contacts

• New Jersey Department of Health — Aid in Dying Act — Official source for NJ Aid in Dying Act forms, annual statistics, and programme guidance for patients and providers. nj.gov/health (search "Aid in Dying")
• Compassion & Choices New Jersey — Provides patient advocacy, physician referrals, and volunteer support for New Jersey patients using the Aid in Dying Act. compassionandchoices.org
• Death with Dignity National Center — Legislative monitoring and educational resources for New Jersey. deathwithdignity.org

Medical Contacts

• Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) — Professional body for NJ physicians; publishes guidance on Aid in Dying Act participation requirements and conscientious objection.
• Compassion & Choices Physician Referral Service — Provides a list of NJ-based physicians willing to participate in the Aid in Dying process. compassionandchoices.org
• American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) — National resource for palliative care and MAID physician training. aahpm.org

Important: Contact details and eligibility requirements change. Always verify information directly with each organisation before taking any action.