Compassion & Choices - Minnesota

03/25/2026

Today in the Minnesota Reformer, the Rev. Ed Holland reflects on end-of-life care options in the context of Lent: "In this season of Lent — a time of reflection on suffering, mortality, and hope — perhaps we can find common ground. At the end of life, the most faithful response is one rooted in love: supporting the dying, surrounding them with compassion, and trusting them to make the deeply personal decisions that define their final days."

A gracious God empowers us to use science and medicine to compassionately relieve suffering as best we can.

03/19/2026

03/07/2026

After seeing his powerful op-ed in the Star Tribune, People Magazine covered Compassion & Choices Minnesota advocate Tom Albin's plea to lawmakers to authorize medical aid in dying: "I am not asking anyone else to make this choice. I’m asking for the option to choose it for myself, in consultation with my doctors and loved ones, if my suffering becomes unbearable."

Tom Albin, diagnosed with ALS, advocates for access to medical aid in dying, which is unavailable in his home state of Minnesota. He admitted his biggest fear is to go through “months of pure torture" from the disease.

03/06/2026

Next week is the Minnesota Social Service Association's Annual Conference, and if you're attending, we invite you to check out Compassion & Choices Minnesota supporter Mary Carlsen's breakout session, "Medical Aid in Dying: A Minnesota Option?" on March 11th at 9am! Please check the conference program for room information.

About 2/3 of Minnesotans support Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) and it elicits strong opinions. Clients want to discuss it. Participants will increase their knowledge of MAID and sharpen their own perspective on its legalization. The presentation describes MAID using real stories, the process to use it, positions for and against MAID, the status of the Minnesota End of Life Option Act and its importance for social service professionals.

03/05/2026

Stories move people. The heart of the work we do are the stories our advocates share about their experiences, and those of their loved ones, at the end of life. We need to make sure that lawmakers hear from people with direct, personal experiences with end-of-life care. People living with a terminal illness, loved ones of those who have died, clinicians and healthcare providers who work with those at the end of life: all of these are essential perspectives that your legislators need to hear.

If you are comfortable sharing your experiences to help bring a fuller range of end-of-life care options to Minnesota, please reach out.

03/04/2026

In today's Star Tribune, C&C storyteller and advocate Tom Albin makes a powerful case for why Minnesota lawmakers should authorize medical aid in dying as an end-of-life care option in his op-ed "I love Minnesota. I shouldn’t have to leave it to die with dignity."

"I want to spend my last days in my home, with my family. I don’t fear death, I fear losing the life I still love and spending my last months in a body-sized torture chamber," Tom Albin writes.

02/26/2026

Please join us on March 3rd at 4pm for a training on how to best engage your community in essential conversations about end-of-life care options and advance care planning. Learn more and sign up at https://join.compassionandchoices.org/a/minnesota-volunteer-training-tips-tabling

02/20/2026

Heads up, Eden Prairie! Join us for an informative presentation on advance care planning by Mary Carlsen from Compassion and Choices!

This presentation will cover:

- Advance-care planning for healthy individuals
- Resources for those facing serious diagnoses
- Options for people with terminal illnesses
- Planning tools for potential dementia

The presentation will conclude with a Q & A session so please bring your questions.

Learn how to better navigate end-of-life decisions to do all you can to ensure your wishes are respected. This is an opportunity to gain valuable insights and have your questions answered by an expert in the field.

02/19/2026

Big news about Compassion & Choices' work in Minnesota, and what's to come.

02/11/2026

✨ Celebrating Our 2025 Volunteer of the Year: Françoise Shirley✨

We are proud to honor Françoise Shirley as our 2025 Volunteer of the Year.

Françoise is someone whose dedication is felt immediately. Her compassion, consistency, and unwavering belief in expanding end-of-life options in Minnesota have strengthened this movement in profound and meaningful ways. She brings kindness, steadiness, and an ability to truly listen. These qualities make her not only an exceptional volunteer but an exceptional human being.

This recognition is truly deserved.
Françoise, thank you for your time, your heart, and your commitment!

02/05/2026

Find your legislators here:
https://gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/
Just type in your zip code, and you’ll see who your State Senator and State Representative are in seconds.