On Wednesday, New York announced it will become the latest state to legalize medically assisted suicide for terminally ill residents, following a deal between Gov. Kathy Hochul and state legislative leaders.
The decision follows a year-long negotiation between the governor and legislative leaders.
Hochul, a Catholic, said she will sign the proposal next year after adding a series of “guardrails” to the bill, as she explained in an op-ed in the Albany Times Union.
She emphasized that the safeguards would protect patients and uphold moral standards.
In the op-ed, she described hearing from New Yorkers in the “throes of pain and suffering,” as well as their children, while also considering opposition from “individuals of many faiths who believe that deliberately shortening one’s life violates the sanctity of life.”
She highlighted the voices of patients and their families, noting the urgency of addressing their suffering.
She wrote, “I was taught that God is merciful and compassionate, and so must we be.”
She continued, “This includes permitting a merciful option to those facing the unimaginable and searching for comfort in their final months in this life.”
The Medical Aid in Dying Act requires that a terminally ill person expected to die within six months make a written request for life-ending drugs.
The act targets individuals whose prognosis indicates death within six months.
Two witnesses must sign the request to ensure the patient is not being coerced, and the request must then be approved by the patient’s attending physician and a consulting physician.
These steps are intended to confirm the patient’s autonomy and the seriousness of the decision.
The bill’s sponsors and legislative leaders have added provisions to require confirmation from a medical doctor that the person “truly had less than six months to live,” and confirmation from a psychologist or psychiatrist that the patient is capable of making the decision and is not under duress.
The additions aim to prevent accidental or coerced requests.
Hochul also said the bill will include a mandatory five-day waiting period and a written and recorded oral request to “confirm free will is present.” Outpatient facilities associated with religious hospitals may elect not to offer the option.
Religious hospitals can opt out, ensuring faith-based care remains available.
She added that she wants the bill to apply only to New York residents, citing a federal appeals court ruling that a similar law in New Jersey applies only to residents of that state and not those from beyond its borders.
The residency restriction mirrors a precedent set by a New Jersey federal appeals court ruling.
Hochul said she will sign the bill into law next year, with her changes woven into the proposal, and it will go into effect six months after it is signed.
The six-month period after signing allows providers to prepare and educate patients.
Later on Wednesday, Hochul said supporting the bill was one of the toughest decisions she has made as governor, asking, “Who am I to deny you or your loved one what they’re begging for at the end of their life?” She added, “I couldn’t do that any longer.”
Hochul framed the decision as one of the most difficult she has faced in office.
The legislation was first introduced in 2016 but stalled for years amid opposition from the New York State Catholic Conference and other groups that argued the measure would devalue human life and undermine the physician’s role as a healer.
The opposition cited concerns that the law would devalue life and erode the physician’s healing role.
In a statement after the governor’s announcement, Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the New York bishops said Hochul’s position “signals our government’s abandonment of its most vulnerable citizens, telling people who are sick or disabled that suicide in their case is not only acceptable, but is encouraged by our elected leaders.”
The bishops’ statement underscored their view that the law encourages suicide among vulnerable populations.
New York lawmakers approved the legislation during their regulation session earlier this year, and supporters said it would reduce suffering for terminally ill people and let them die on their own terms.
Lawmakers highlighted the potential to alleviate suffering and grant patients control over their dying process.
A dozen other states and the District of Columbia have laws to allow medically assisted suicide, according to advocates, including a law in Illinois signed last week that goes into effect next year.
Illinois’ recent law, effective next year, joins New York in the expanding list of states permitting assisted dying.
The new law brings New York in line with the growing number of states that have adopted similar measures, and the inclusion of strict safeguards-multiple physician approvals, psychological evaluation, and a waiting period-aims to protect patients from coercion.
The safeguards-multiple physician approvals, psychological evaluation, and a waiting period-are designed to protect patients from coercion.
The decision also reflects the governor’s willingness to balance her Catholic faith with the moral considerations of patients in extreme distress, noting that the safeguards and residency requirement address concerns about out-of-state patients seeking the procedure in New York.
The residency requirement addresses concerns that non-residents might seek the procedure in New York.
The bill’s passage demonstrates the complex interplay between state law, religious ethics, and patient autonomy, and the upcoming signing and implementation will mark a significant shift in New York’s approach to end-of-life care.
The law’s passage reflects the complex balance between state law, religious ethics, and patient autonomy.
Health advocates anticipate the law will provide a dignified option for those facing terminal illness, while critics warn it could be misused or undermine the sanctity of life, underscoring the broader national conversation about assisted dying and the role of physicians.
The debate highlights the national conversation about assisted dying and the physician’s role in end-of-life care.
Key Takeaways
- New York will legalize medically assisted suicide for terminally ill residents, effective six months after the governor signs the bill.
- The act requires a written request, witness signatures, physician approvals, a five-day waiting period, and psychological confirmation to ensure free will.
- The law applies only to New York residents, aligning with a federal appeals court ruling in New Jersey that limits similar laws to state residents.
The law’s implementation will be closely monitored as it begins to take effect.
