'The Right Thing To Do': New Jersey Governor To Sign Bill Allowing Terminally Ill Patients Right To Die

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TRENTON, N.J. (CBS/AP) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says he will sign legislation allowing terminally ill patients to seek life-ending medication. The Democratic governor said in a statement Monday he supports the measure lawmakers passed earlier in the day.

"Allowing terminally ill and dying residents the dignity to make end-of-life decisions according to their own consciences is the right thing to do. I look forward to signing this legislation into law," Murphy said in a statement on Monday.

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New Jersey would join six states and the District of Columbia with similar laws once the bill is signed.

Lawmakers have tried unsuccessfully since at least 2012 to advance the legislation. Under the bill, adult New Jersey residents with a prognosis of six months or less to live could request the life-ending medication.

The legislation includes several measures that legislators called "safeguards." They include requiring patients to make two requests, along with a chance to rescind the request.

Opponents argue the bill will hurt the most vulnerable in society.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)