Kevin Díaz has seen “good deaths”—the kind that are directed by and aligned with the values of the person dying—and he’s seen bad deaths. The latter haunt him and inspire his work as president and CEO of the nonprofit Compassion & Choices and its Action Network, which focuses on legislative advocacy.
“We’re working to redefine what the gold standard of end-of-life care looks like in the U.S.,” Díaz says. “We advocate for patient-directed care, where clinicians bring expertise, and loved ones and communities provide the support, but patients are the ones who set the goals.” That includes giving terminally ill people who meet certain criteria the ability to decide when they die, as in the case of medical aid in dying. The movement is at a turning point, thanks in large part to Diaz’s advocacy: As of early 2026, 12 states and Washington, D.C., authorize medical aid in dying, and the nonprofit expects legislation to be introduced in at least 15 states this year.