Compassion & Choices Virginia

04/23/2026

📰 "He and our family were cheated. He had expressed many times the desire to die in my arms. Had I known he was so close to death, I would have stayed the night. Now I live with the guilt and regret that he died alone."
Thank you, Gail, for writing this heartfelt piece, and sharing why you support the option of medical aid in dying in Virginia!

Had physician-assisted dying been enacted, my husband could have chosen the place and time of his death, former journalist Gail Kent writes in a guest column.

04/16/2026

📰 Pastor: End-of-life planning provides peace of mind for VA residents

"A lot of people feel if you talk about death, you're going to die," he said. "So we try to tell them, 'No, just talking about it is not going to kill you, but being ready for it is what really helps you.'"

A pastor is encouraging Virginians to discuss their end-of-life wishes with their loved ones in celebration of National Healthcare Decisions Day.According to the Journal of Palliative Medicine, nonwhite Americans are

02/11/2026

We are so proud and happy to share that our President & CEO, Kevin Díaz, has been named to the 2026 TIME100 Health List honoring the world’s 100 most influential leaders in health! Our work would not be possible without the guidance of a great leader. Congratulations Kevin 🥳

Over the past year, Compassion & Choices has seen some of our biggest victories to date, including three new states authorizing medical aid in dying. Now, as the organization eyes a bold agenda for 2026, a new recognition for Compassion & Choices President & CEO Kevin Díaz highlights the growing…

02/05/2026

While we are disappointed by this outcome, we are bolstered by the strong support of our bill patron, Senator Boysko, and her colleagues that supported the bill. We are NOT giving up. We will not stop until terminally ill Virginia residents have the full range of end-of-life care options. We will continue to educate and empower individuals to make end-of-life care decisions based on their values and priorities.

Thank you for everything you’ve done to help us get this far. We are incredibly grateful for you and all of your support. We know you will continue this fight for a medical aid-in-dying bill alongside us, and that fills us with hope.

Stay tuned for more information in your e-mail inboxes as we move forward.

02/04/2026

The subcommittee voted 3 to 2 with one abstention to move the bill forward to the full committee yesterday!

Have you told your legislators why you support medical aid in dying? Now is the time! Take a minute to email themn here: https://join.compassionandchoices.org/a/committee-members-support

02/03/2026

Our work would not be possible without our amazing advocates and legislative champions. Thank you so much to Sen. Boysko for her leadership on our bill and to all of our advocates who show up and bravely share their stories and testimony. You are the 💖of our movement!

02/03/2026

Big news: the Senate Committee on Education and Health has scheduled a subcommittee hearing for our medical aid-in-dying bill for tomorrow starting at about 4 p.m. You can watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/

Since the time for live testimony will be limited, please submit written testimony in support of the bill by noon tomorrow via email to Committeeoperations@senate.virginia.gov with the subject line, “Supportive testimony for SB359.”

Share your personal story of why you support this bill and medical aid in dying in Virginia. Personal testimony is powerful and could change the mind of the lawmaker who propels our bill forward!

01/30/2026

Polling consistently shows strong public support for medical aid in dying across Virginia.

We invite you to share in the comments why you support medical aid in dying and why this issue matters to you.

01/30/2026

Compassion & Choices advocates are busy in the State House this week!

Have you contacted your legislators to show your support for medical aid in dying? There's still time!

https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/index.php/legislator

01/30/2026

Thank you to Dr. Cohen, a retired oncologist, for his heartfelt testimony in this letter to the editor:

Dear Editor,

01/30/2026

Help this movement grow by sharing your support for medical aid in dying with two friends.

Personal conversations are one of the most powerful ways to change hearts and minds, especially when they come from someone people trust.

Send a quick text, email, or message and let them know why this issue matters to you—and how they can get involved.

01/29/2026

The Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS) is the official source for tracking bills, committee meetings, votes, and legislative timelines in real time.

Bookmarking LIS lets you follow this legislation directly, without filters or delays, and stay informed as things move quickly during the session.

It’s one of the best tools you can use to be an informed and effective advocate in Virginia.

https://lis.virginia.gov/