In an era where threats to bodily autonomy are at the forefront of national discourse, the right to make decisions about one’s own body, including how and when to end life, is critical. We come together to celebrate birthdays, but what about honoring someone’s choice on their deathday? As we navigate pressing issues of autonomy, this question resonates more than ever. Betsy Davis, a 41-year-old San Diego-based artist, did this. She gathered all of her loved ones, threw a hell of a party, and decided her time on earth was over. Davis had ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and spent the last three years of her life losing control of her body bit by bit. She could no longer stand, speak, brush her teeth or scratch an itch. Yearning for autonomy and freedom from pain, she made the decision to become one of the first Californians to take a lethal dose of drugs under the state’s doctor-assisted dying law for the terminally ill. Unfortunately across Connecticut, where I reside as a public health graduate student at Yale, this right to bodily autonomy is illegal. As a birth doula, end of life doula and gerontologist, I understand transition. I have had the privilege of living my life with autonomy and everyone should have the right to expect that death go the same way. Connecticut state officials: I implore you to champion the legalization of Bill 1070 at last and give Connecticut residents access to death with dignity.  For the third straight year in a row Connecticut policy makers have denied the advancement of Bill 1070 making it illegal to obtain a lethal medication to aid one’s suffering by their own terms. Bills in the state have been introduced repeatedly, since 1994, with the most recently failing in 2022. Amy Bloom, an author from New Haven, chronicled her experience with her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and his decision to utilize the right to die. Because it was not legal in Connecticut or any neighboring states at the time, they needed to travel to Dignitas in Switzerland, adding layers of suffering to them and their family. No one dealing with the insurmountable grief and fear of losing a loved one, or approaching death themselves, should have to leave their world to find solace at the end of their life. This legislation is legal in 10 U.S. states (Maine, New Jersey, Vermont, New Mexico, Montana, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, California, and Hawaii) and Washington, D.C. One must establish residency in each state for at least six months to qualify to benefit from the policy, but in 2023 Oregon and Vermont waived their residency requirement. It’s Connecticut’s turn next. Government should diminish, not increase, suffering. Law has the power to uplift public health by fostering systems that promote equity, encourage healthier behaviors, and ensure accountability. As the U.S. grapples with its long history of medical exploitation and racism, right-to-die legislation must be implemented equitably, ensuring that marginalized communities have access to compassionate end-of-life care. Some opponents fear that racial and ethnic minorities might receive subpar care and be pushed toward medical aid in dying, leading to disparities in utilization. These concerns are real and grounded in the country’s legacy of settler-colonialism, slavery, and systemic racism. Larger social inequalities undeniably shape how people from different backgrounds experience death and dying. However, having the option to choose is a human right that should transcend race, class, or background. This decision belongs to the individual, not the government. This is not politics. It is healthcare. I envision a future of true health equity, where death is embraced as a natural part of life, with liberty and justice for all. So, one day, happy deathdate to you. Brit Fleck is a master of public health candidate at the Yale School of Public Health.