Soon, New Yorkers will have the right to end their own life if they are terminally ill. But just how easy will it be to do?
Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday that she had reached an agreement with state lawmakers to sign the Medical Aid in Dying Act. The new law will allow certain terminally ill New Yorkers to choose how their final days unfold. After being signed by Hochul in January, the legislation will take effect six months later.
So what does this actually mean for New Yorkers, and what steps would someone need to go through in order to end their life under the new law?
Who Is Eligible?
Medical aid in dying will only be available to adults who are terminally ill and have been given a prognosis of six months or less to live. The law is limited to New York residents, and the decision must be made by the patient themselves, without pressure or coercion…