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.
I do understand some of the reasons behind a proposal like this. However, after hearing concerns and personal stories from my colleagues across the aisle in the Assembly Chamber with regard to whether this proposal should pass and also listening carefully to our Floor Leader Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C-Ballston)’s well-crafted argument pointing out that suicides are on the rise in our state, it is clearly a terrible time to pass this bill. I also believe that we are playing God, and I’ve heard too many stories where a person is diagnosed with a terminal illness by a physician only to outlive the projection by the doctor.