New York Medical Aid in Dying Law Takes Effect for Terminally Ill Adults After Years of Debate and New Religious Liberty Lawsuit
Adults with terminal illnesses can now request life-ending medication under New York’s new law, though providers and advocates remain split.
ALBANY, NY — New York’s medical aid in dying law took effect Wednesday, opening the door for some terminally ill adults to request medication that would end their lives. The measure applies to residents 18 and older who have six months or less to live.
Supporters described the change as the result of years of work in the Legislature. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who pushed for the bill while serving in the state Senate and now serves as Manhattan borough president, said the day had been a long time coming.
What Officials Have Confirmed
State rules require two physicians to approve a request before the medication can be provided. Patients must make the request verbally and in writing, and a five-day waiting period applies after the request is submitted. A mandatory mental health evaluation is also part of the process.
Doctors may refuse to take part for moral or other reasons, but they must transfer the patient to a willing provider. The law is limited to New York residents and is described by supporters as one of the most restrictive medical aid in dying laws in the country. The state has not said that every provider must participate.
Religious Groups Sue
The transfer requirement is the focus of a lawsuit filed by four orders of Catholic nuns and other Catholic ministries. Their legal team, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, argues that providers should be able to opt out entirely without having to connect patients to another doctor.
Adele Keim, an attorney for the group, said the plaintiffs want a true opt-out, including the right not to participate and the right for their residents not to have to hear about the option. New York has granted the plaintiffs a temporary exemption, but the case is still moving forward in court.
What Happens Next
Some disability rights advocates are also asking for a pause. The New York Association on Independent Living sent a letter to the state health department on Tuesday urging a delay, saying the state did not leave enough time to address concerns before implementation.
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the legislation in February after announcing support for it last December. Twelve other states and Washington, D.C., already allow medical aid in dying, and New York joins them with a law that supporters say gives patients more choice while critics continue to challenge how it will work in practice.
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