Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey office decried the state legislature’s passage of a bill today allowing doctors to write lethal prescriptions for terminally ill patients who say they wish to end their lives.
The state Assembly and Senate voted today to send the bill to Governor Phil Murphy for his signature. If he signs it into law, New Jersey will be the eighth state permitting “aid in dying.”
The bill would allow physicians to write prescriptions for lethal drugs for terminally ill patients who are evaluated by physicians as having less than six months left to live.
Agudath Israel’s New Jersey director, Rabbi Avi Schnall, reiterated the Orthodox Jewish group’s longstanding opposition to these types of laws. “Life possesses inherent sanctity,” he said, “irrespective of any diminished quality.
“We have testified and met legislators over several years on this subject,” he added. “And we are deeply disappointed at today’s votes. Our hope is that the governor may still veto the bill when it comes to his desk, and we urge him to do so.”
Agudath Israel has long advocated on behalf of terminally ill patients, particularly through its Chayim Aruchim division, and notes that many patients with terminal diagnoses have gone on to live fulfilling lives well after their doctors’ darkest predictions have been pronounced. What is more, the organization has argued, misdiagnoses, the influence of family members, or financial pressures can lead patients to make irreversible decisions to end their lives prematurely.
Agudath Israel of America’s executive vice president Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel added, “This bill is not a matter of concern for New Jersey residents alone. Other states have recently passed similar laws, and we must all be worried about the message this sends to our children and to our senior citizens. We must send a different message, that human life is sacred. Period.”
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4 Responses
Agudah can only blame themselves on this one.
Aguda! This is what happens when you vote for liberal muschasim who are pro abortion , pro gay marriage. etc
would have been better if he lobbied to make sure that it didn’t pass, making sure someone like Passaic Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese voted against this, or Patrick J. Diegnan is what was important.
Now they better make sure they loose their seat
I hope agudah never promotes supporters of assisted suicide again, like they recently did!
Posing for pictures with voters of assisted suicide to be placed in all the Jewish papers, is a statement that assisted suicide is not murder. Agudah better stop treating us to pictures of murderers
According to the Targum Yonoson it is assur to join together with a rotzeach, which would include posing for pictures. Leading rabbanim paskin that this targum yonoson is a halacha
GOOD JOB B.M.G PROMOTER OF GOV MURPHY – KEEP UP YOUR GOOD WORK