New York to legalize medical aid in dying this month: Here’s what you need to know
Originally published in
Staten Island Advance
on
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Medical Aid in Dying Act is set to be signed into law by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul this month, ending a 10-year journey for the controversial legislation.
Here’s what you need to know about the bill.
When will Hochul sign it?
Hochul announced on Dec. 17 she would sign the Medical Aid in Dying Act into law after coming to an agreement with the New York State Legislature on additional safety guardrails.
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.
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