New York State has enacted the Medical Aid in Dying Act, a landmark law that gives terminally ill adults the option to request medical assistance to peacefully end their lives. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the legislation after lawmakers in both chambers approved the bill last year, following years of debate and advocacy.
The law allows mentally competent adults diagnosed with a terminal condition and a prognosis of six months or less to live to request medication from a physician that they may choose to self-administer to bring about a peaceful death. Supporters say the measure provides compassion, dignity, and personal autonomy at the end of life, with strict safeguards designed to prevent abuse and protect vulnerable individuals.
“New Yorkers deserve the choice to endure less suffering—not by shortening their lives, but by shortening their deaths,” Hochul said in a statement at a signing event, highlighting her personal connection to the issue and the careful deliberation that shaped the statute.
Under the new law, patients must make a written request, undergo evaluations to confirm mental competency, and observe waiting periods before receiving a prescription. Additional protections include mandatory mental health evaluations, recording of oral requests, and limits on who may witness a request to prevent conflicts of interest.
Senate sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal called the law a “historic step forward,” and Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin said it offers terminally ill New Yorkers “the autonomy and dignity they deserve at the most vulnerable moment of their lives.”
Opponents argue that legalizing medical aid in dying raises profound ethical and moral concerns. Religious organizations have long objected on the grounds that intentionally ending a human life, even in the face of terminal illness, violates core moral teachings about the sanctity of life.
Disability rights advocates have also expressed concern that subtle societal pressures, including feelings of being a burden, inadequate access to quality health care, or financial hardship, could influence some patients’ decisions.
The law is scheduled to take effect this summer, giving the state Department of Health time to establish regulations and guidance for implementation.