Medical Aid in Dying Bill Heads to Hochul’s Desk

The State Senate on Monday followed the lead of the Assembly by approving the Medical Aid in Dying Act.

The Assembly approved the companion bill over a month ago.

The measure now goes to the governor for her action.

The bill provides “that a mentally competent, terminally ill patient may request medication to be self-administered for the purpose of hastening the patient’s death provided the requirements set forth in the act are met, and to provide certain protection and immunities to health care providers and other persons, including a physician who prescribes medication in compliance with the provisions of the article to the terminally ill patient to be self-administered by the patient.”

The Senate bill, sponsored by Democrat Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D, Manhattan), was cosponsored by three Hudson Valley senators, all Democrats – Peter Harckham (D, Mt. Kisco), Michelle Hinchey (D, Saugerties), and James Skoufis (D, Cornwall).

Assemblywoman Sarahana Shrestha (D, Esopus) was a cosponsor in her lower house. “The reason was simple: when someone is dying, and the act of keeping them alive is so painful that it becomes indistinguishable from torture… the most dignifying thing that person deserves is some semblance of control,” she said.