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Governor Kathy Hochul has signed the Right-to-Die bill, legalizing physician-assisted suicide in New York. The law permits terminally ill residents with less than six months to live to request medication to end their lives. This decision follows a decade-long debate and aligns New York with twelve other states and Washington, D.C., which have similar laws.
The legislation, known as the Medical Aid in Dying Act, includes several safeguards. It requires approval from three doctors, a mental health evaluation, a video request, and a five-day waiting period to ensure the decision is voluntary and well-informed. Hochul, a practicing Catholic, acknowledged the religious conflict she faced, but emphasized that the law provides options for New Yorkers. "I watched my own mom die from A.L.S.," she shared, highlighting her personal connection to the issue.
The bill has faced opposition from religious groups and some disability-rights advocates. The New York State Catholic Conference described it as "egregious," arguing it abandons vulnerable citizens. However, a recent Siena University poll indicates that 54 percent of New Yorkers support the legislation.
The law is expected to take effect six months after signing, with exceptions for urgent cases. Advocacy groups hailed the announcement as the culmination of more than a decade of work. Corinne Carey, senior campaign director for Compassion & Choices NY/NJ, stated, "This law is about compassion, family, love, and respect for bodily autonomy."
Despite the mixed reactions, Hochul's amendments aim to ensure that the decision to end one's life is made with full autonomy and without external pressure. The law marks a significant shift in New York's approach to end-of-life care, providing terminally ill individuals the right to die on their own terms.
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