The “Medical Aid in Dying Act,” otherwise known as physician-assisted suicide, [assisted suicide, and euthanasia,] is a proposal that should not be taken lightly. I believe this proposal is not in New Yorkers’ best interest as it currently does not address significant risk factors associated with its passage that could carry unintended and potentially dangerous consequences.
The Medical Aid in Dying Act stipulates two things:
A mentally competent, terminally ill adult with a prognosis of six months or less to live may request life-ending medication from their treating physician they can self-administer to cause their death; and
Certain protections and immunities are provided to health care providers and other persons, including a physician who prescribes medication to the terminally ill patient to be self-administered in compliance with the provisions of the proposal.