New York Senate passes landmark bill allowing medical aid in dying for terminally ill

In a major legislative move, the New York State Senate has approved the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which would allow terminally ill individuals to end their lives peacefully with prescribed medication.

The bill passed on Monday with a 35-27 vote, following an earlier 81-67 approval in the State Assembly in April. It now awaits Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature to become law.

Once enacted, the law will permit mentally capable adults diagnosed with a terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less to request a life-ending prescription.

The diagnosis must be confirmed by two medical professionals.

If signed into law, New York will join a growing list of states—such as Oregon, Washington, California, Montana, Colorado, Hawaii, Vermont, Maine, New Mexico, and New Jersey—that have already legalised medical aid in dying. The practice is also permitted in Washington, D.C.

"It's been a long road but thanks to the dedicated activists from groups like Compassion & Choices and Death with Dignity we have built the broadest coalition ever assembled of doctors, nurses, patients, and legal advocates from across New York to support this bill," said Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who sponsored the legislation in the Senate.

The bill was originally introduced a decade ago by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, a Democrat from Westchester and chair of the Assembly’s Health Committee. Her personal experience of witnessing her sister suffer and pass away from cancer gave her a deeply personal motivation to push the legislation forward.

"After more than a decade of advocacy, we are finally on the brink of giving terminally ill New Yorkers the autonomy and dignity they deserve at life's end. This legislation is about easing needless suffering and honouring deeply personal choices," Paulin said.

The final decision now rests with Governor Hochul, whose approval would mark a significant step forward for end-of-life rights in New York.