Compassion & Choices (C&C) is a national organization with a mission to pass legislation in every state to permit individuals to choose end-of-life care that reflects their values and beliefs, including medical aid in dying (MAID). C&C advocates for such legislation in Delaware.
After five years of trying unsuccessfully to pass their bill, C&C engaged NüPOINT to help ramp up awareness and engagement around the topic of medical aid in dying. Our first step was to use existing C&C research to create collateral pieces that professionally and succinctly made the case that the majority of Delawareans want the option to choose the circumstances surrounding their death.
The library of easily-understandable materials used charts, graphs and maps to tell the C&C story at a glance. Next, we conducted original research that found that three-quarters of Delaware physicians polled approved the proposed legislation, and two-thirds said they would want the option of medical aid in dying for themselves.
We worked hand-in-hand with the C&C Delaware team to devise and implement a campaign to reach a broad range of targets: state government, religious organizations, physicians and medical practitioners, medical training schools and the general public. We used every tool in our public relations tool chest: Press releases, opinion pieces, letters to the editor, TV and radio appearances, direct mail, testimony before the legislature, letter-writing campaigns, participation at local events throughout the state, community meetings, radio and digital advertising and social media.
In June 2024, the measure passed both houses of the Delaware legislature for the first time in a decade. And while the governor vetoed the bill for personal reasons, NüPOINT and C&C have renewed their commitment to using marketing strategies to advance a new bill.