Additional Coverage:
- NY Gov. Hochul to sign bill to legalize physician-assisted suicide: ‘Who am I to deny you?’ (foxnews.com)
Governor Hochul to Sign Medical Aid in Dying Bill, Citing Compassion for Terminally Ill
Albany, NY – New York is poised to join a growing number of states allowing medically assisted suicide for terminally ill patients, as Governor Kathy Hochul announced her intent to sign the “Medical Aid in Dying Act” into law next year. The decision follows a deal with state legislative leaders and comes after extensive deliberation, as outlined by the Governor in an op-ed.
The measure, which received approval from state lawmakers earlier this year, is expected to take effect six months after its signing. Governor Hochul, a Catholic, shared her profound reflections on the decision, stating she listened to the heartfelt pleas of New Yorkers experiencing “pain and suffering,” as well as their families. She also considered the perspectives of those from various faiths who believe that intentionally shortening one’s life violates the sanctity of life.
“I was taught that God is merciful and compassionate, and so must we be,” Governor Hochul wrote, emphasizing her belief in “permitting a merciful option to those facing the unimaginable and searching for comfort in their final months in this life.”
New York will become the thirteenth state, alongside Washington, D.C., to enact such legislation. This aligns the state with others like Delaware and Illinois, both of which approved similar laws this year set to become effective in 2026. Several countries globally, including Canada, Germany, and Switzerland, have also legalized what is often referred to as “death with dignity.”
The “Medical Aid in Dying Act” stipulates that a terminally ill individual, with a prognosis of six months or less to live, must submit a written request for life-ending medication. This request requires the signatures of two witnesses to confirm the absence of coercion and must be approved by both the patient’s attending physician and a consulting physician.
Key provisions agreed upon by the bill’s sponsors and legislative leaders will be added to further safeguard the process. These include a mandatory medical doctor’s affirmation that the patient “truly had less than six months to live,” along with confirmation from a psychologist or psychiatrist that the patient is capable of making the decision free from duress.
Governor Hochul painted a poignant picture of the bill’s intended impact, writing, “The Medical Aid in Dying Act will afford terminally ill New Yorkers the right to spend their final days not under sterile hospital lights but with sunlight streaming through their bedroom window.” She added, “The right to spend their final days not hearing the droning hum of hospital machines but instead the laughter of their grandkids echoing in the next room. The right to tell their family they love them and be able to hear those precious words in return.”
Further modifications to the bill will include a mandatory five-day waiting period, in addition to both a written and recorded oral request, to “confirm free will is present.” The legislation also allows outpatient facilities affiliated with religious hospitals to opt out of offering medically assisted suicide.
The Governor also specified that the bill will exclusively apply to New York residents. This aligns with a recent federal appeals court ruling concerning a similar New Jersey law, which affirmed that medical aid-in-dying services in the Garden State are limited to its residents.
Governor Hochul acknowledged the immense weight of her decision on Wednesday, stating it was one of the toughest she has made as governor. “Who am I to deny you or your loved one what they’re begging for at the end of their life?”
she remarked. “I couldn’t do that any longer.”
The legislation, initially introduced in 2016, faced years of opposition from religious groups, including the New York State Catholic Conference, who argued it would devalue human life and compromise the physician’s role as a healer. Cardinal Timothy Dolan and New York’s bishops issued a statement following Hochul’s announcement, expressing their view that her support “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.”
Conversely, proponents of the bill have consistently argued that it offers a compassionate option to reduce suffering for terminally ill individuals, granting them the autonomy to determine the terms of their final days.