The debate over New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act reached a new peak this week as major medical, legal, and civic groups rallied in support of the measure, while a coalition of leading doctors warned lawmakers against what they called a dangerous and irreversible step.
On Tuesday, advocates with Compassion & Choices, along with Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, held a Capitol news conference urging the Senate to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act (A.136/S.138) following its recent approval in the Assembly. They were joined by representatives from prominent organizations, including the Medical Society of the State of New York, the New York State Academy of Family Physicians, the New York State Nurses Association, and the New York State Bar Association.
Supporters say the bill would give terminally ill, mentally capable adults with six months or less to live the legal right to request medication from a physician to peacefully end their lives if suffering becomes unbearable. Ten states and Washington, D.C., already allow medical aid in dying.
“The breadth and depth of support for medical aid in dying from more than 60 medical, legal, and civic groups across this state is overwhelming,” said Corinne Carey, senior campaign director for Compassion & Choices. “Senators, please listen to dying New Yorkers and give them the power to make their own end-of-life decisions.”
Personal testimonies added emotional urgency to the advocates’ push. Terminally ill patients, bereaved family members, and healthcare leaders shared stories of suffering, dignity, and the desire for autonomy at the end of life. Dr. Jeremy Boal, a former Mount Sinai executive now living with ALS, and numerous cancer patients emphasized the importance of having a peaceful option when treatments are no longer effective.
“The right to bodily autonomy and self-determination extends across the entire spectrum of life,” said Robin Chappelle Golston, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts. “This legislation is about compassion, dignity, and giving patients control over their final moments.”
However, opposition from within the medical community remains strong. The New York Biomedical Roundtable, representing more than 250 doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and medical students, issued a forceful statement urging lawmakers to “get a second opinion” before supporting the legislation.
Leading figures such as Dr. Eve E. Slater of Columbia University and Dr. Diane E. Meier of Mount Sinai warned that physician-assisted suicide fundamentally conflicts with the role of medicine. They cited the American Medical Association’s continued opposition, arguing that the practice is “incompatible with the physician’s role as healer” and could erode doctor-patient trust.
“We say doctors should be agents of healing, not suicide,” the coalition declared. “This legislation risks harming the vulnerable, deceiving the public about cause of death, and undermining the moral foundations of medical care.”
Critics particularly objected to provisions they say would require physicians to conceal the true cause of death on official documents and worry about potential societal risks if the law is passed.
The future of the Medical Aid in Dying Act now rests with the Senate. With impassioned pleas from advocates and warnings from medical opponents weighing heavily, lawmakers face a deeply personal and profoundly consequential decision that could redefine end-of-life care in New York.
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