New York Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed several changes to the state's Medical Aid in Dying Act, which would regulate physician-assisted deaths for terminally ill patients. The governor's amendments aim to address concerns raised by lawmakers and advocacy groups over the bill's current provisions.
Among the proposed changes are a requirement that patients request life-ending medication through video recording, as well as a seven-day waiting period before terminally ill patients can receive the medication. Additionally, Hochul is pushing for all patients who request physician-assisted death to undergo a mental health evaluation by a psychiatrist, and restricting the practice to New York residents.
These amendments come as the governor is weighing her decision on the bill, which has been debated intensely due to differing views on the topic from lawmakers, advocates, and faith leaders. The Medical Aid in Dying Act is one of over 200 bills that requires Governor Hochul's approval before the end of the year.
While supporters of the bill argue it provides necessary relief for patients with life-ending illnesses, opponents claim it sanctions suicide and diminishes medicine. The American Medical Association opposes physician-assisted death under its code of ethics.
Governor Hochul says she is aware of the strong views on both sides and will make a "weighty decision" on the bill. Her proposed amendments aim to address some of the concerns raised by lawmakers, but it remains to be seen whether they will be acceptable to the state Legislature.
Eleven other states and the District of Columbia have legalized physician-assisted death with varying safeguards and restrictions, while Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is considering a similar bill on his desk. Advocacy groups for both sides are mobilizing support and engaging in public outreach efforts ahead of Governor Hochul's decision.
Among the proposed changes are a requirement that patients request life-ending medication through video recording, as well as a seven-day waiting period before terminally ill patients can receive the medication. Additionally, Hochul is pushing for all patients who request physician-assisted death to undergo a mental health evaluation by a psychiatrist, and restricting the practice to New York residents.
These amendments come as the governor is weighing her decision on the bill, which has been debated intensely due to differing views on the topic from lawmakers, advocates, and faith leaders. The Medical Aid in Dying Act is one of over 200 bills that requires Governor Hochul's approval before the end of the year.
While supporters of the bill argue it provides necessary relief for patients with life-ending illnesses, opponents claim it sanctions suicide and diminishes medicine. The American Medical Association opposes physician-assisted death under its code of ethics.
Governor Hochul says she is aware of the strong views on both sides and will make a "weighty decision" on the bill. Her proposed amendments aim to address some of the concerns raised by lawmakers, but it remains to be seen whether they will be acceptable to the state Legislature.
Eleven other states and the District of Columbia have legalized physician-assisted death with varying safeguards and restrictions, while Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is considering a similar bill on his desk. Advocacy groups for both sides are mobilizing support and engaging in public outreach efforts ahead of Governor Hochul's decision.
. like, its not that simple anymore. i feel 4 those patients whr they need help but dont no wot 2 do 
. gov Hochul's tryin 2 b fair n all 
, but i wish ppl cld just agree on somethin 
. i heard its hard 2 pass laws like dis bc of all d strong opinions 
. but wht if ppl who dont no wha its lik t b in thos shoes? 
do we really no wut's best 4 dem?
. Did you know that 1 in 5 people in NY state will experience a major depressive episode by age 29? 
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, the waiting period can give patients more time to reconsider their decision. Meanwhile, states like Oregon & Washington have seen a decrease in requests for life-ending medication since implementing similar safeguards 
. What's your take on this? Should we be focusing on patient comfort or exploring alternative treatments? 
. I mean, can you really put a wait period on something that's literally going to end your life? 
It feels like they're trying to add more layers of emotional pain before making such a huge decision 
I gotta say, it's kinda wild that these states have already figured out this complex issue of assisted dying and we're still debating it here 
. I mean, I get why people are split on the topic - my aunt has a friend who's gone through something like this and it sounds like an absolute nightmare to go through 
. I'm all about the governor making a "weighty decision" and finding a solution that works for everyone... even if it's not perfect 
.
.
. Let's focus on making sure we're supporting our healthcare system and giving patients the autonomy they deserve 
I'm kinda glad to see the governor taking steps to address some of the concerns around this bill. I mean, we all want what's best for people who are suffering with terminal illnesses, right? 
. and video recording request? isn't that just gonna be another thing for them to deal with when they're already dealing with life-ending illness? 
also why mental health evals by psychiatrist? isn't that just gonna push the burden on healthcare system? 
I'm actually kinda surprised they're not proposing to make it even more restrictive, like, only allow it for people who've won the lottery or something 
. But hey, whatever, I guess some folks might appreciate a little extra time to think about it before they kick the bucket...
. I mean, come on, patients are DYING here, not exactly sipping lattes and scrolling through their feeds 
. It's like they think we're just gonna forget that we're talking about actual human lives at stake.
But hey, the seven-day waiting period makes sense – I get why they wanna make sure patients are good with it before making it official 
. Overall, I'm hoping Governor Hochul finds a way to make this bill work for everyone 
. It's a super fine line, you feel me? Some people might see it as a way out, while others just wanna live and experience all the good stuff 
. Can't we just have a one-on-one convo with their doc instead? And what about mental health evaluations? Are those really necessary? I'm no expert, but it seems like it could be kinda intrusive 
. That's cool, I guess. It'll be interesting to see what she decides and how other states respond 
.
... i mean, i get that people have strong opinions on both sides, but come on, governor hochul is trying to balance all those concerns 
. on one hand, I get why ppl would wanna avoid pain & suffering, but on the other hand, I think we need 2 be careful 'bout slippery slope 
.