New York Introduced Self-Administered Euthanasia 0 10

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill on medical assistance in dying that will allow doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of medication to patients in the terminal stage of illness if they have less than six months to live. The passage of the law is the result of more than a decade of discussions involving human rights organizations, religious communities, and civil society, according to the governor's official website.

According to Hochul, New York will always advocate for the right to "bodily autonomy," which includes the ability for terminally ill individuals to end their lives "with dignity and compassion."

"This path has been deeply personal for me. Watching my mother suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was an unbearable experience, especially because I could do nothing to ease the pain of a loved one. It took years of candid discussions with the bill's sponsors, medical experts, patient advocates, and, most importantly, families who have gone through this. New Yorkers deserve a choice that alleviates their suffering not by shortening life but by shortening the dying process — I firmly believe we made the right decision," Hochul stated.

The law includes a number of measures to exclude possible coercion or persuasion of patients to end their lives. For instance, there is a mandatory five-day waiting period between the prescription and the taking of the medication, and the patient's oral request for the medication must be recorded on video or audio. Each patient expressing a desire for medical assistance in dying undergoes a mandatory psychiatric and psychological evaluation.

The service is provided exclusively to New York residents. Moreover, hospices associated with religious organizations may entirely refuse this option.

Hochul had previously emphasized in comments about the law that she considered her Catholic faith in her decision. Initially, she announced plans to sign the law last December and faced criticism from local clergy.

Prelate Timothy Dolan, who was then serving as the Archbishop of New York, called the bill "outrageous," and Hochul's plans to approve it "troubling." Most of the aforementioned measures were ultimately added to the initiative as amendments this week.

The bill's author, New York Assembly member Amy Paulin, called the day of signing the initiative historic. According to her, most people "will never choose medical assistance in dying," but it is important for them to know that such an option exists.

"Today is a historic day for New York... This legislative initiative is about love, autonomy, and alleviating unnecessary suffering... Most people will never choose medical assistance in dying, but it is important for them to have the assurance that this act of compassion is possible, even if it is never carried out. I am deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for seeing the profound compassion at the heart of this law, and to the outstanding advocates who have worked for many years to make this day possible," she said.

The law will take effect in six months. During this time, the Department of Health will develop the necessary regulations, while medical institutions will be able to prepare and train their staff. Mandy Zucker, director of End of Life Choices New York, stated that the nonprofit organization will conduct a large-scale informational campaign, calling the law "a milestone on the long and winding road to justice, choice, peace, and dignity."

"Over the next six months and beyond, End of Life Choices New York will conduct a large educational campaign for doctors, lawyers, nurses, pharmacists, and many other professionals directly affected by this new law, as well as for the general public. We look forward to collaborating with the governor's office and specialized organizations to ensure the law is implemented successfully and effectively," Zucker stated.

According to Reuters, New York has joined 12 U.S. states and the District of Columbia where this form of euthanasia is permitted. Oregon became the first U.S. state to legalize the practice in 1994. This method of dying is also available in California, Illinois, Colorado, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont, Washington, and Hawaii. Last year, the End-of-Life Options Act was passed in Delaware, as previously reported by RTVI.US.

Medical assistance in dying generally refers to what is known as assisted suicide, although some American experts point out the inaccuracy of using the term. The American College of Legal Medicine passed a resolution in 2008 advocating for the exclusion of the word "suicide" from the lexicon regarding the actions of a mentally competent, albeit terminally ill person who has expressed a desire to end their life.

The difference from euthanasia is that in the case of medical assistance, the patient independently controls the entire process, while in euthanasia, the lethal dose of medication is administered by a physician.