N.Y. Gov. Hochul will sign Medical Aid in Dying Act
Originally published in
Staten Island Advance
on
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced she would sign into law the Medical Aid in Dying Act after coming to an agreement with the state Legislature on additional safety guardrails, bringing an end to a decade-long battle by advocates to get the measure passed.
The Medical Aid in Dying Act — which was carried by Manhattan Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal in the Senate and Westchester Assemblymember Amy Paulin in the Assembly, and counts Staten Island state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton as its prime co-sponsor — allows mentally competent, terminally ill patients over the age of 18 the choice of self-administering prescribed life-ending medication. Only those with medically confirmed terminal illnesses and conditions who have fewer than six months to live will be able to request medical aid in dying. A person doesn’t qualify for the measure, also commonly known as MAID, solely because of age or disability, and there is no list of qualifying medical conditions. Health care providers who don’t wish to participate in the process can opt out without fear of retribution.
“Throughout this long journey, I have been humbled by the families who shared intimate and painful stories to help us understand why this option matters,” Scarcella-Spanton told the Advance/SILive.com. “Today’s agreement is a testament to their strength. This law respects the wishes of terminally ill adults and provides a compassionate option for those who need it. I am grateful the governor has acted, and I am even more grateful for the advocates who carried this cause forward.”
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