Terminally ill Nevadans need end-of-life care options now | Dolores Huerta

This opinion column was submitted by Dolores Huerta, a civil rights activist and president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. 

My mother died of terminal cancer that spread throughout her body. Her prolonged dying was agonizing and excruciating for her and our family. Although this horrific experience happened years ago, the painful memory of her suffering still lingers every single day. 

That is why I reach out to legislators across the country to seek their support in expanding and improving end-of-life care options. 

Two years ago, I joined Nevadans and legislators to urge passage of legislation that would provide terminally ill state residents with the option to die gently when they could no longer tolerate their suffering at the end of life. I was very disappointed when this medical aid-in-dying bill (Senate Bill 165) did not move forward during the 2019 legislative session. 

I know Nevada legislators are once again considering the End of Life Options Act (Assembly Bill 351). This bill also would allow terminally ill, mentally capable adults the option to request and receive medication they may decide to take to relieve unbearable suffering.

I urge you to listen to the voice of the majority of Nevadans. Nearly three out of four (73%) Nevada voters support medical aid-in-dying legislation, across the ethnic, political and religious spectrum. Support for this legislation is diverse: 73% of Hispanics/Latinos, 76% of African Americans, 67% of Catholics like myself, 67% of nondenominational Christians and 74% of other religions favor a medical aid-in-dying measure, revealed by the poll conducted by Public Policy Polling. 

Prior to working with legislators in Nevada, I spent long hours working to help pass California’s 2015 End of Life Option Act and in New Mexico, where I was born, we recently passed medical aid-in-dying legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 8. New Mexico is now the 11th U.S. jurisdiction to authorize medical aid in dying. 

Terminally ill Nevadans do not have time to wait for another legislative session. They are dying now and need the Legislature to pass this urgent, compassionate legislation. 

I urge you to join me in support of AB 351, Nevada’s End of Life Options Act. Join me to stand with the majority of nuestra gente.

Let’s elevate the voice of our brothers and sisters who have been traditionally underrepresented in the end-of-life care movement. Let’s talk to our doctors and loved ones in hopes that legislators hear the voice of terminally ill Latinos/Hispanics whose last wish is to die peacefully. 

¡Si Se Puede! Yes We Can! 

Dolores Huerta is a civil rights activist and president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. In 2020, she was named one of USA Today’s "Women of the Century."

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