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Laurie Wilcox of Bordentown (l) seen in this October file photo, testified in favor of a bill Thursday legalizing "aid in dying" legislation. Stephanie Packer of Orange, CA, testified against the bill. Both women have terminal illnesses. (Susan K. Livio | NJ Advance Media)

TRENTON -- A Senate panel approved a bill Thursday that would allow doctors to write a prescriptions for lethal drugs for terminally ill patients who want "aid in dying," despite the likelihood Gov. Chris Christie will veto the measure.

The bill now heads for a final vote in the full Senate after it was approved by the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee in a 5-3 vote with one abstention.

Noting that the bill faces a veto by the governor, State Sen. Robert Singer (R-Ocean) wondered why the matter isn't being put on the election ballot to allow voters to decide, a route other states have taken.

"We know we don't have the votes to override (Christie's veto). Why are we going through this, bringing people out?" Singer asked, gesturing to the crowd of about 100 people, some in wheelchairs or hooked up to oxygen tanks, sitting in the audience inside a Statehouse hearing room.

"To say we know what this governor will do is a little bit of a stretch," Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester). replied. "This issue deserves continued hearings and public discussions. There is no loss in people participating in the process."

Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), also a sponsor, said using the ballot question on such a sensitive matter is not the right approach. "If there is a mistake, a flaw (in the language), you can change it. If you do it through the constitution, you can't," Sweeney said.

Sen. Richard Codey, (D-Essex), a funeral director, said Christie earlier's comments against the assisted suicide bill should have no bearing on whether the legislature "moves ahead on an important issue."

"This is an issue whose time has come," Codey said. "If he doesn't sign it, I don't care. If we have to wait for another governor, in the meantime let's do what's right."

People with terminal illnesses and disabilities, clergy, medical professionals were among the dozens who testified for nearly three hours trying to explain why the bill should or should not pass.

Stephanie Packer, a 33-year-old mother of four, flew in from California to tell the committee how the law in her state was used against her by her insurance company.

Diagnosed with scleroderma and in need of a specific form of chemotherapy, Packer said her insurance carrier denied her treatment six times, including once after California enacted the aid in dying law in 2015. When she asked whether her insurance covered the pills that would end her life, she was told yes, with a $1.20 co-pay.

With more fighting, the treatment was eventually covered, Packer said, but the experience was frightening.

"End of life care is the most expensive care out there," Packer said. "My choice, my right, to live a minute longer should not be affected" by this bill.

Melissa Wilcox of Bordentown and Laurie Wilcox of Clark, sisters who are battling terminal illnesses, said the law would give them peace of mind that they will not face the same painful illness and death their mother endured with lung cancer.

"I saw the terror in her eyes. I don't want to go through that. That's what I think about when I go to sleep at night," Laurie Wilcox said.

"My sister and I want nothing more than to live as long as our diseases will allow us," she said. "We simply want a full range of options to choose among at the end of our lives."

The bill (A2451) would allow patients with a terminal illness to request a prescription from their attending physician that they will take to end their lives. A terminal illness is defined as "an irreversibly fatal illness, disease, or condition with prognosis, based upon reasonable medical certainty, of a life expectancy of six months or less."

Patients would have to make the request of their doctors in writing, and twice in person, 15 days apart. The physician would have to give the patient a chance to rescind the request, and a consulting physician would be asked to certify the diagnosis and reaffirm the patient is capable of making the decision.

The bill passed the Assembly last month.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.