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Advocates Lobby for New Mexico End-of-Life Options Bill
From:
Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death, Funeral Expert Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death, Funeral Expert
For Immediate Release:
Dateline: Albuquerque, NM
Wednesday, February 15, 2017

 
Rep. Deborah Armstrong

NM State Rep. Deborah Armstrong (D-Albuquerque)

The New Mexico State Legislature is currently in session, and today supporters of physician aid in dying for terminally ill patients converged on the Roundhouse in Santa Fe in support of House Bill 171, the End-of-Life Options Act. The bill was introduced by State Rep. Deborah Armstrong (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Bill McCamley (D-Las Cruces).

Rep. Armstrong said, “The End-of-Life Options Act would allow mentally capable, terminally ill adults in New Mexico the ability to request a prescription from their doctor that they may self-administer to achieve a peaceful death if they decide their suffering has become intolerable.”

“We have worked hard to tailor the bill to New Mexico’s unique and rural character, ensuring that those who qualify don’t face unnecessary and burdensome barriers and that doctors and caregivers are protected. To pass this bill, I need your voice to ensure my colleagues at the Capitol know how important it is to their constituents that terminally ill adults have the option to die peacefully, should their suffering become unbearable.”

According to Rep. Armstrong, 80% of New Mexicans polled agree that “the decision of a terminally ill patient to receive medication to bring about his/her death is a personal decision between the patient and his/her doctor.” And 65% of voters in neighboring Colorado recently supported a ballot initiative to authorize the practice.

The ACLU of New Mexico and Compassion and Choices both support this bill.

Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist and a pioneer of the Death Cafe movement in the United States, spoke with her state senator Cisco McSorley in his office about HB 171. Here is a video of their conversation:

Gail Rubin, CT, is author and host of the award-winning book and television series, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips, and KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die.

Rubin is a Certified Thanatologist (that's a death educator) and a popular speaker who uses humor and films to get the end-of-life and funeral planning conversation started. She "knocked 'em dead" with her TEDx talk, A Good Goodbye. She provides continuing education credit classes for attorneys, doctors, nurses, social workers, hospice workers, financial planners, funeral directors and other professionals. She's a Certified Funeral Celebrant and funeral planning consultant who has been interviewed in national and local print, broadcast and online media.

Known as The Doyenne of Death®, she also hosts A Good Goodbye Internet radio show and produces Mortality Minute radio and online video spots.

Rubin is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, Toastmasters International and the National Speakers Association New Mexico Chapter. Her speaking profile is available at eSpeakers.com.

Gail Rubin has been interviewed about funeral planning issues in national and local broadcast, print and online media. Outlets include The Huffington Post, Money Magazine, Kiplinger, CBS Radio News, WGN-TV,  and local affiliates for NPR, PBS, FOX, ABC-TV, CBS-TV and NBC-TV.

Sign up for a free planning form and occasional informative newsletter at her website, AGoodGoodbye.com.
News Media Interview Contact
Name: Gail Rubin
Group: A Good Goodbye
Dateline: Albuquerque, NM United States
Direct Phone: 505-265-7215
Cell Phone: 505-363-7514
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