New York to allow medically assisted suicide for terminally ill

New York is set to become the latest state to legalize medically assisted suicide for the terminally ill under a deal reached between the governor and state legislative leaders announced Wednesday Democratic Gov Kathy Hochul plans to sign the proposal next year after pushing to add a series of guardrails in the bill she announced in an oped in the Albany Times UnionHochul a Catholic said 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 many faiths who believe that deliberately shortening ones life violates the sanctity of lifeI 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 have laws to allow medically assisted suicide according to advocates including a law in Illinois signed last week that goes into effect next yearNew Yorks Medical Aid in Dying Act requires that a terminally ill person who is expected to die within six month make a written request for lifeending drugs Two witnesses would have to sign the request to ensure that the patient is not being coerced The request would then have to be approved by the persons attending physician as well as a consulting physicianThe governor said the bills sponsors and legislative leaders have agreed to add provisions to require confirmation from a medical doctor that the person truly had less than six months to live along with confirmation from a psychologist or psychiatrist that the patient is capable of making the decision and is not under duress Hochul also said the bill will include a mandatory fiveday 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 optionShe added that she wants the bill to apply only to New York residents Earlier this month a federal appeals court ruled that a similar law in New Jersey applies only to residents of that state and not those from beyond its borders Hochul said she will sign the bill into law next year with her changes weaved into the proposal It will go into effect six months after it is signedLater on Wednesday Hochul said supporting the bill was one of the toughest decisions she has made as governor Who am I to deny you or your loved one what theyre begging for at the end of their life she said I couldnt do that any longer The legislation was first introduced in 2016 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 physicians role as a healerIn a statement after the governors announcement Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the New Yorks bishops said Hochuls position signals our governments abandonment of its most vulnerable citizens telling people who are sick or disabled that suicide in their case is not only acceptable but is encouraged by our elected leadersNew York lawmakers approved the legislation during their regulation session earlier this year Supporters said it would reduce suffering for terminally ill people and let them die on their own termsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever