New York governor says she has reached a deal to legalize medically assisted suicide

ALBANY N Y AP New York Gov Kathy Hochul noted Wednesday that she has reached a deal with state legislative leaders to approve a bill to give terminally ill people the legal ability to end their own lives with prescribed medication In an op-ed in the Albany Times Union Hochul reported she supports the proposal but has made an agreement with lawmakers to include guardrails in the measure before she signs it into law Hochul a Catholic reported she came to the decision after hearing from New Yorkers in the throes of pain and suffering as well as their children while also considering opposition from individuals of countless faiths who believe that deliberately shortening one s life violates the sanctity of life I was taught that God is merciful and compassionate and so must we be she wrote This includes permitting a merciful option to those facing the unimaginable and searching for comfort in their final months in this life A dozen other states and the District of Columbia allow medically assisted suicide according to advocates Illinois Gov JB Pritzker signed regulation Friday that will allow terminally ill residents of that state to choose to end their lives New York s Anatomical Aid in Dying Act requires that a terminally ill person who is expected to die within six month make a written request for life-ending drugs Two eyewitnesses would have to sign the request to ensure that the person is not being coerced The request would then have to be approved by the person s attending physician as well as a consulting physician The governor disclosed the bill s sponsors and legislative leaders have agreed to add provisions to require confirmation from a medicinal medical expert that the person truly had less than six months to live along with confirmation from a psychologist or psychiatrist that the individual is capable of making the decision and is not under duress Hochul also revealed the bill will include a mandatory five-day waiting period as well as a written and recorded oral request to confirm free will is present Outpatient facilities associated with religious hospitals may elect not to offer the option She added that this is a right afforded to New Yorkers only A spokesperson for Hochul disclosed the governor will sign the bill into law next year with her changes weaved into the proposal The ordinance was first introduced in but stalled for years amid opposition from New York State Catholic Conference and other groups The Catholic organization argued the measure would devalue human life and undermine the physician s role as a healer In a announcement after the governor s announcement Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the New York s bishops declared Hochul s position signals our ruling body s abandonment of its preponderance vulnerable citizens telling people who are sick or disabled that suicide in their scenario is not only acceptable but is encouraged by our elected leaders New York lawmakers approved the provision during their regulation session earlier this year Supporters declared it would reduce suffering for terminally ill people and let them die on their own terms Source