Key Takeaways:
- New York has reached an agreement to make medical aid in dying available to terminally ill residents with less than six months to live.
- The bill includes several guardrails to ensure the integrity of the patient’s decision and the preparedness of medical institutions.
- The law will go into effect six months after signing, allowing the Department of Health to put into place regulations and healthcare facilities to prepare and train staff.
- The bill includes a mandatory waiting period, oral request recording, mental health evaluation, and prohibition against financial beneficiaries serving as witnesses or interpreters.
- New York will become the 13th state, along with Washington, D.C., to offer expanded end-of-life care.
Introduction to Medical Aid in Dying
Governor Hochul has announced an agreement with the Legislature to make medical aid in dying available to terminally ill New Yorkers with less than six months to live. This decision comes after careful reflection and deliberation with the bill’s sponsors, advocacy organizations, and everyday New Yorkers who shared personal experiences with the Governor. The bill, with the agreed-upon amendments, will be passed and signed in January, and the law will go into effect six months later. Governor Hochul stated that New York has long been a beacon of freedom, and now it is time to extend that freedom to terminally ill New Yorkers who want the right to die comfortably and on their own terms.
The Governor’s Personal Experience
Governor Hochul’s decision was influenced by her personal experience with her mother, who died of ALS. She is all too familiar with the pain of seeing someone you love suffer and being powerless to stop it. Although this was an incredibly difficult decision, she ultimately determined that with the additional guardrails agreed upon with the legislature, this bill would allow New Yorkers to suffer less – to shorten not their lives, but their deaths. The Governor’s personal experience highlights the importance of compassion and empathy in end-of-life care.
Bill Provisions and Guardrails
The bill includes several provisions and guardrails to ensure the integrity of the patient’s decision and the preparedness of medical institutions. These include a mandatory waiting period of 5 days between when a prescription is written and filled, an oral request by the patient for medical aid in dying must be recorded by video or audio, and a mandatory mental health evaluation of the patient seeking medical aid in dying by a psychologist or psychiatrist. Additionally, there is a prohibition against anyone who may benefit financially from the death of a patient from being eligible to serve as a witness to the oral request or an interpreter for the patient.
Reaction from Lawmakers and Advocates
State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Amy Paulin, the bill’s sponsors, praised the agreement, stating that it is a monumental victory for every New Yorker who has wished to peacefully end their suffering from a terminal illness. They emphasized that this bill is not about ending life, but about shortening death. Senior Campaign Director for Compassion & Choices NY/NJ Corinne Carey and Executive Director of EOLCNY Mandi Zucker also expressed their gratitude and relief, highlighting the importance of compassion, family, love, and respect for bodily autonomy in end-of-life care.
Implementation and Education
The law will go into effect six months after signing, allowing the Department of Health to put into place regulations and healthcare facilities to prepare and train staff. Executive Director of EOLCNY Mandi Zucker emphasized that the work cannot stop now, and a massive educational effort is needed for physicians, attorneys, nurses, pharmacists, doulas, and other professionals who will be impacted by this new law, as well as the general public. The Governor’s office and professional organizations will work together to ensure the law is implemented successfully and efficiently.
Conclusion
The agreement to make medical aid in dying available to terminally ill New Yorkers is a significant step forward in providing compassion and dignity to those in need. The bill’s provisions and guardrails ensure that the patient’s decision is respected and that medical institutions are prepared to provide end-of-life care. As New York becomes the 13th state, along with Washington, D.C., to offer expanded end-of-life care, it is essential to continue the conversation about end-of-life care and ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the care and support they need.
