30-04-2025
New York bill would allow terminally ill patients to end their lives
NEW YORK (PIX11) – A bill that will help terminally ill patients end their lives is set to pass the New York State Assembly, according to Assemblywoman Amy Paulin.
Assembly Bill A136, known as the Medical Aid in Dying Act, would allow terminally ill adults to request a prescription for medication they can ingest to die in their sleep, according to the bill.
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'Passing this bill is about love, compassion, and reducing needless suffering,' Paulin said. 'No one should have to endure agony when there is a better, humane choice available.'
To be eligible for prescribed aid in dying, patients need a terminal illness verified by two doctors and must have six months or less to live. They must verbally request and submit a written request that is witnessed by two individuals who are unrelated to them or their care facility. Witnesses cannot have a financial interest in the estate, according to the bill.
At the time of ingestion, patients must be able to self-administer the medication, ensuring a voluntary choice. Physicians also must inform patients about all available end-of-life care options, including hospice and palliative care.
Paulin stated terminally ill New Yorkers deserve autonomy, dignity, and peace at the end of life.
Oregon became the first state in 1994 to legalize aid in dying. Currently, medical aid in dying is legal in California, Maine, New Mexico, Washington, D.C., Colorado, Montana, Washington, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Vermont. All these states have aid-in-dying bills, according to Compassion & Choices.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.
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