New York's proposed Medical Aid in Dying Act received the support of the Medical Society of the State of New York, Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who is sponsoring the legislation in that chamber, announced Monday.
The bill would give terminally ill, mentally capable adults with six months or less to live the option to commit suicide with a cocktail of pharmaceutical drugs.
“[Medical Society of the State of New York] “supports legislation such as the Medical Aid in Dying Act and supports physicians' choice to opt-in or refuse to participate in the processes and procedures set out in any proposed medical aid in dying legislation,” the group said in their website.
Hoylman-Sigal cited the organization's support as an important development: the effort to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which is nearly a decade old.
“Now, [the act] has been endorsed by both major physician organizations in New York State, MSSNY and the New York State Academy of Family Physicians. “It is clear that a majority of physicians support medical assistance in dying, and many palliative and hospice physicians want to be able to offer this option to their patients who want it,” Hoylman-Sigal said in a statement. “As the late Dr. Robert Milch, founder of Hospice Buffalo, said before he died, 'If medical aid in dying had been legal during my practice, it would have made me a better doctor.'
The bill has received support from those dealing with terminal diagnoses, many of whom have shared stories to help push the bill forward. The measure has faced strong opposition from groups, especially people with disabilities who argue the law does not do enough to protect them from pressure in the procedure.
Earlier this month, the bill was amended to add additional safeguards in the hope that it can soon become law.
