Edwards, Paiz, Carter Announce Legislation to Ensure Individuals Keep Dignity in Death
LANSING, Mich., March 19, 2026 — State Reps. Kimberly Edwards (D-Eastpointe), Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods) and Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac) announced they will be introducing the Death with Dignity legislative package to empower individuals with terminal illness to die on their terms.
“End-of-life decisions are among the most personal choices any individual can face,” Edwards said. “Our package ensures that patients, not the government, have the final say in how they navigate their final days — with dignity, compassion and respect.”
The four-bill package aligns with a national initiative of end-of-life advocacy and policy reform that since 1997 has given individuals the power to choose how they want to spend their last days.
“This package is built with strong safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals while honoring the rights of those facing terminal illness,” Paiz said. “It strikes a careful balance between compassion and responsibility, ensuring ethical, transparent and medically guided decisions.”
“When medical science can no longer offer a cure, the government should not force a person to endure unbearable suffering,” Carter said. “This legislation gives patients an option for peace, while continuing to prioritize palliative care, informed consent and physician oversight.”
The package is a reintroduction of Senate Bills 678–81 of 2023 and will be formally introduced following the legislative spring break.
###