Regular attendees to the many Newtown Bridge Club activities in recent years at Edmond Town Hall probably know Lynda Shannon Bluestein, who recently penned a passionate and very personal opinion piece at The Connecticut Mirror.

After already surviving treatment for breast cancer and malignant melanoma, Lynda received the news in March 2021 that she had contracted late-stage Fallopian tube cancer, a very rare and extremely lethal type of gynecologic cancer.

After coming to grips, as best she could, with that devastating news, Bluestein said she put in place a plan for living out what she referred to as “my short shelf life.”

“I am using what time I have left to do the things I’ve always wanted to do — and one of them is to advocate for medical aid in dying, aka MAID,” she wrote, vowing to put her energy, to the extent she can, toward seeing 2022 as the year Connecticut lawmakers pass and the governor signs a Medical Aid In Dying (MAID) bill.

According to the latest reporting from CT Public, for the first time, a version of Connecticut’s aid in dying bill made it out of committee in 2021. The Public Health Committee voted 24-9 in favor of sending the measure to the House floor, but it did not make it after failing to clear another review by the Judiciary Committee.

Under last year’s proposal, an adult patient with a terminal illness — having six months or less to live — would have been able to access lethal drugs by making two oral requests at least 15 days apart, and one written request done in the presence of two witnesses who could attest that the patient is of sound mind and acting voluntarily.

A physician would prescribe or dispense the medication, and the patient would self-administer the drug. Requests for the medication may be rescinded by the patient at any time “without regard to his or her mental state,” according to the 2021 proposal.

After 26 years of trying, Bluestein and thousands of other Connecticut residents supporting the cause have more hope than ever before that this legislation will prevail. On Tuesday, February 15, the northeast organizer of a national organization called Compassion & Choices announced a renewed proposal, Senate Bill 88, had been raised and referred to the Joint Public Health Committee.

Proponents are expecting a public hearing on the proposal to take place as soon as Wednesday, February 23. Anyone interested in providing verbal or written testimony is invited to reach out by e-mail to hpope@compassionandchoices.org as soon as possible if they would like assistance or guidance preparing their testimony.

Regardless of any individual’s personal position or beliefs rooted in their spiritual upbringing, there are many local and state residents like Bluestein who are seeking — and deserve — the opportunity to make their own decision about how to administer the remainder of their own lives.

Certainly, this is not an option or consideration for everyone. But don’t those who desire a say in how they transact the final days of their terminal situation deserve a right by law to make their own call?

If you think so, or you do not, now is the time to articulate your feelings to your state lawmakers.