It was a packed hearing Tuesday at the Massachusetts State House as both sides of the right-to-die battle sounded off on the controversial issue.



Many shared personal stories of family members suffering for too long.

Tim Cassidy of Swampscott said his father wanted to die as his condition gravely deteriorated.



The bill would allow people who have been given 6 months to live an option to take their own lives with a prescription drug.

But they would have to be mentally capable of making the decision and understand the consequences, so Alzheimer’s patients, for example, would likely not qualify.

JJ Hanson has a terminal brain illness and opposes the legislation.



Supporters of the bill call it compassionate care for the terminally ill, and say it benefits those who want to die and their families, watching loved ones suffer.

When a similar measure was on the ballot three years ago, Massachusetts voters turned it down. The earliest the legislature could vote on this bill would likely be next year.