WESTPORT — A man walking across the state in support of legislation that would give the terminally ill the right to end their lives will join a panel discussion on the issue, moderated by actor James Naughton, on Monday at the Westport Library.

The program on “Medical Aid-in-Dying” will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at the library, 20 Jesup Road.

To register for the free program, click here.

Tim Appleton, one of the panelists, is the senior campaign director for the Compassion and Choices Action Network, and has been walking across the state to promote his advocacy for the cause.

Appleton, according to a recent profile published by the CTMirror, on his cross-state trek wears “a bright-yellow vest with the phrase “ASK ME ABOUT AID IN DYING” scrawled across the back, Appleton pauses occasionally to talk to residents about the push to pass the bill. He stops at diners and coffee shops along his route, hosting discussions on the issue and promoting the talks on social media.” Read the complete CTMirror article here.

State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, another of Monday’s panelists, joined Appleton and other state lawmakers at a recent press conference at the state Capitol in Hartford to support the effort.

A proposal to enact aid-in-dying legislation failed to advance in this year’s General Assembly session, a fate repeated in the previous two years. At least 10 states allow a terminally ill person to choose to end their life, including Vermont, Maine, Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Jersey, Montana and New Mexico, as well as Washington, D.C.

Naughton is also an advocate of enacting state legislation that would permit terminally ill adults to submit written requests for lethal medication, and has spoken locally on the topic several times. The actor has a personal interest in the issue because of the end-of-life experience of his late wife, Pamela.

Other panelists include: state Sen. Ceci Maher, D-26, whose district includes Westport, and Maribeth Abrams, a filmmaker producing a documentary about advocate Kim Hoffman, who died in 2022.

For questions, call the Westport Library at 203-291-4800.