CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY THIRD COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO.
R-18-21 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Diane Gibson and Isaac Benton
RESOLUTION
title
Urging The New Mexico State Legislature To Support And Enact "Medical Aid In Dying (MAID)," Also Known As The End Of Life Options Act (Gibson, Benton)
body
URGING THE NEW MEXICO STATE LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT AND ENACT "MEDICAL AID IN DYING (MAID)," ALSO KNOWN AS THE END OF LIFE OPTIONS ACT.
WHEREAS, all people are free and have inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination about their medical care - what care to have, when to start care, when to stop care, and who will make decisions on their behalf if they are not able to speak for themselves; and
WHEREAS, if people accomplish their advance care planning, have thoughtful conversations with family and loved ones, receive palliative and hospice care when they approach the end of life, the chances of having the kind of death one seeks are greatly improved; and
WHEREAS, advances in science and technology have created medical interventions that can mitigate many serious health conditions, as well as improve the quality and longevity of people with these conditions; however, these same interventions can prolong the dying process and increase suffering for some at the end of life; and
WHEREAS, "medical aid in dying (MAID)" describes a medical practice defined by established standards of care, which enables a mentally competent, terminally ill adult to obtain a prescription for medication which the patient may choose to self-administer, in the face of unbearable suffering, to have some control and ability to advance the time of an approaching death as appropriate; and
WHEREAS, absent the availability of medical aid in dying, some patients and loved ones in New Mexico have become so desperate to relieve the suffering caused by terminal illness, that they sometimes turn to violent means; and
WHEREAS, many...
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