New York: Hochul Signs Medical Aid in Dying Law for Terminally Ill Residents

Albany, New York — Terminally ill New Yorkers will soon have a new end-of-life option under legislation Gov. Kathy Hochul signed that allows eligible patients with a prognosis of less than six months to live to request medication intended to end life peacefully.

The measure, S.138/A.136, legalizes “medical aid in dying” for New York residents and includes multiple safeguards meant to prevent coercion and ensure informed decision-making, according to the governor’s office and reporting on the bill signing.

Among the new requirements are a mandatory five-day waiting period between when a prescription is written and when it can be filled; an audio or video recording of the patient’s oral request; and a required mental health evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist. The law also bars anyone who could financially benefit from a patient’s death from serving as a witness or interpreter, and it requires the initial physician evaluation to be conducted in person.

The law is not immediate: its effective date was extended six months after signing to allow the state Department of Health to develop regulations and for health systems to train staff; local reporting pegged the start date for early August.

What parents and caregivers should do now: Families supporting a loved one with a terminal diagnosis can ask a physician or hospice provider how the new process may intersect with existing palliative care, and confirm whether a provider opts in or out—especially for religiously oriented hospice services, which may decline participation.

State officials are expected to release implementation guidance as the effective date approaches.