Assisted dying advocates have welcomed Hunter support for their cause after a petition gained more than 4000 new signatures on Saturday.
Islington woman Abbey Egan appeared in Saturday's Newcastle Herald to describe the hellish final days of her partner, Jayde Britton, who died of cancer in 2018.
Ms Egan and other Dying With Dignity NSW representatives garnered more than 2000 signatures at Hunter shopping centres on Saturday plus about 2000 on an online petition which now numbers more than 18,000.
"Lots of people were coming up with their own stories of losing loved ones and seeing the suffering, lots of people who work in health and aged care," Ms Egan said.
Sydney MP Alex Greenwich plans to have assisted dying legislation brought back before state parliament after a 2017 bill was voted down in the upper house.
He said in December that his bill could mirror Western Australia laws, which allow patients likely to die within six months, or 12 months for neurodegenerative diseases, to access medical help to end their life after gaining approval from two doctors.
Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp said on Sunday that he had spoken to Mr Greenwich about co-sponsoring the bill.
"Having lost friends and family to terminal illness, this is very important to me," he said.
Mr Greenwich introduced the bill that decriminalised abortion in NSW last year.
The Australian Medical Association opposes voluntary euthanasia.
NSW parliamentarians are likely to be allowed a conscience vote on assisted dying, rather than being required to follow party policy.
RELATED: Bill puts voluntary assisted dying legislation in NSW back in spotlight
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