Paulin & Hoylman-Sigal Urge Early Passage of Their Top 2024 Legislative Priority – the Medical Aid in Dying Act

Jan 16, 2024

Assemblyman Al Taylor: “Learn from my experience. Don’t wait till it’s you or your parent, spouse or loved one.”

Rev. James Galasinski: “Comforting a dying friend and parishioner, we both concluded: the option of medical aid in dying is a loving, compassionate gift.” 

Nancy Murphy: “In Vermont, my sister chose a beautiful, peaceful transition, allowing her to bond with her family at the end in a way beyond description.”

Pictured: Senate bill sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Chelsea, center), Senate prime co-sponsor Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-Staten Island, left), and Assembly bill sponsor Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale, right) Photo credit: Todd Cross

Medical aid in dying allows a terminally ill, mentally capable adult with six months or less to live to request a prescription from their doctor for medication they can take when their suffering becomes too great to bear and die peacefully. Ten states, including the nearby states of New Jersey, Vermont and Maine, and Washington, D.C., have authorized medical aid in dying. The most recent Siena College poll, from November 2023, shows strong support for medical aid in dying among New York state voters by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, 58-30%.

Paulin, lead Assembly sponsor of the Medical Aid in Dying Act, said: “I’ve talked about the horrific suffering my sister endured at the end of her life countless times during the course of this campaign. Watching someone you love suffer is gut-wrenching. But we have an opportunity to offer love and support to terminally ill New Yorkers in their final weeks and days.” 

“We have an opportunity to pass a law with strong public support that will demonstrate our compassion and love for our fellow New Yorkers who are dying. It’s time. Let’s pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act. Now,” Paulin said. 

Hoylman-Sigal, the lead Senate bill sponsor, said: “We understand that this is an issue that only affects a relatively small number of people at any given time. We also understand that not every dying New Yorker who would be eligible for medical aid in dying would avail themselves of that option. In fact, history shows that one-third of terminally ill individuals who receive a prescription for medical aid in dying never take it. 

“This is not a political or partisan issue. It is a human issue that gives people who will imminently die a measure of autonomy over how much pain and suffering they must endure before they die. We can show our love by allowing those who choose to end their suffering peacefully to do so. This is the year we get it done.” 

Hoylman-Sigal and Paulin coauthored a column featured on the Empire Report this morning.

Assemblyman Al Taylor (D-Manhattan) said: "As a legislator and a caregiver to my late father, I have intimately observed the excruciating struggles of an individual grappling with terminal illness. The Medical Aid in Dying Act transcends mere legislation for me; it serves as a vital lifeline for those confronting the indescribable agony of unbearable pain. My personal journey, tending to my father in his final moments, has profoundly altered my perspective. I've come to recognize that empowering individuals with the choice to navigate their last moments with dignity and peace is an embodiment of profound compassion. 

“This press conference is not just an opportunity; it's a platform to illuminate the poignant stories that have compelled me to fervently support A995/S2445. I implore my colleagues and community to delve into the human aspect driving this imperative legislation. Let's unite in our stance and ardently advocate for the passage of the Medical Aid in Dying Act in New York, especially for those enduring the unbearable pain of terminal illness,” Taylor said. 

Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) said: "The Medical Aid in Dying Act would empower New Yorkers to manage their final days on their own terms and with dignity. End-of-life care is a highly personal decision best made between patients, their doctors, and their families. Passing this legislation would allow those suffering from a terminal illness to make a decision that is best for them and their loved ones." 

Nancy Murphy, who lives in Vermontville, NY, said: “When my sister, Joan Kline, was diagnosed with terminal, incurable, ovarian cancer, with just months to live, she immediately knew she wanted a medical aid-in-dying prescription in case her pain or suffering became unbearable. And it did. She chose the day she would die. She was surrounded by her loving family and we all toasted her with champagne. 

“In Vermont, my sister chose a beautiful, peaceful transition allowing her to bond with her family at the end in a way that is beyond description. In Vermontville, New York, I do not yet have that option. That is an outrage that must be righted this year,” Murphy said. 

Rev. James Galasinski, the pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton, NY, said: “Medical aid in dying would have given my friend and parishioner, Eileen Raymond, more peace of mind in her last few years. Eileen died relatively peacefully in December but shortly before that, one of her last acts of justice was to meet with Senator Stec (who for many years has refused to meet with anyone on this topic) and asked him to support the Medical Aid in Dying Act. 

“So, I call on Senator Stec and other lawmakers to listen to Eileen, to me, to other Unitarian Universalists, and all who believe human life has inherent dignity. Sometimes, life is extended beyond the will or ability of a person to sustain that dignity. Death will touch us all but hopefully not everyone has to suffer. Pass medical aid in dying now.”

Rena Schwartzbaum, who lives in Westchester County, said: “My mother, Lillian, was a Holocaust survivor who lived through Hitler, Stalin, diphtheria, a displaced person's camp, the loss of her husband of 58 years, and one cancer diagnosis. But her second cancer proved too much for her. Mom’s final week included a stroke, pain, nausea, and three days of gurgling breathing until she finally took her last breath.

“I felt helpless. My mother’s last moments could have been so different. She wanted her children and grandchildren to visit, to say goodbye, and gently end her suffering on her own terms. She likely would have done so one week before she actually passed. It was a demoralizing, hopeless situation. And to what end? She had no chance of recovery so for whose benefit was she suffering?

“Legislators, take the opportunity in this new year to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act as a demonstration of love and compassion, in memory of a Holocaust survivor who suffered needlessly at the end of her extraordinary life,” Schwartzbaum said. 

Corinne Carey, senior New York campaign director of Compassion & Choices, said: “New Yorkers overwhelmingly support expanded end-of-life care options, including medical aid in dying. And voters are looking to their Albany representatives and to the leaders of the Legislature to show love and compassion by moving the Medical Aid in Dying Act forward – now – in committee and to the floor for a final vote.

 “I know – we all know – that losing a loved one is never easy. But showing love to those who are dying should be easy. I ask every lawmaker to think about the people you love. Wouldn’t you want them to have every option available to them? Wouldn’t you want them to be able to chart an end of life journey that is as beautiful as the lives they led? You have the power in 2024 to give that gift to New York families by passing the bill,” Carey said.

Assemblymember Jennifer Lunsford (D-Monroe County) said: “How we end our lives can be as important as how we live it. And for those living with terminal conditions, the anxiety around what the end looks like can rob a person, and their family, of valuable time. The Medical Aid in Dying Act gives a person the comfort of knowing they can have some control over when and how they leave this world, and that their passing can come with peace and comfort to themselves and their loved ones. I support this bill, knowing that it comes with numerous safeguards to prevent exploitation or undue influence on those who are most vulnerable, while still affording those of sound mind the respect and dignity of choice.” 

Assemblymember Al Stirpe (D-Onondaga County) said: “I am honored to lend my support to the passage of the Medical Aid in Dying Act. Witnessing the positive impact of similar legislation in states like Maine, New Jersey, and California reinforces my belief in the compassionate values it upholds. Inspired by stories like Brittany Maynard's, we strive to give terminally ill individuals in New York the right to shape their final moments, surrounded by loved ones. A 2015 poll revealed that 77% of New Yorkers stand behind aid in dying, underscoring our collective commitment to preserving dignity and autonomy in the face of terminal illness. Let us work together to make this compassionate approach a reality for those navigating these challenging circumstances in our state.”

Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (D-Nassau County) said: "This is an emotional bill with passionate voices on either side. To be honest, when I was first approached to co-sponsor, I couldn’t do it. As I had more meetings on the bill, my concerns were alleviated after the conversations with advocates, physicians, and by the numerous safeguards in place. My parents unfortunately both died really terrible deaths. I don’t know if they would have gone with this option had it been available, but medical aid In dying empowers individuals in their final moments. It gives them a choice and provides them with greater control at the end of their lives. Something my parents did not have."

Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas (D-Queens) said: "As a reproductive justice advocate, I think it is contradicting to advance abortion access in our state but say that bodily autonomy should not extend to these kinds of end-of-life decisions. The Medical Aid in Dying Act has a majority of support among New Yorkers and has the guardrails necessary to ensure that a patient can make an informed decision with their physicians and family. Too many New Yorkers suffer needlessly at the end of life. I thank Assemblywoman Paulin and Senator Hoylman-Sigel for sponsoring this bill and Assemblyman Taylor for his support and moving testimony. I'm ready to vote in favor of passing the Medical Aid in Dying Act." 

Assemblymember Anna Kelles (D-Cortland/Tompkins Counties) said: "New York has always been a leader in protecting individual’s rights to privacy and personal autonomy. Ensuring compassionate choices at life’s end is a responsibility we all bear to stop unnecessary pain and suffering. The Medical Aid in Dying Act gives qualifying patients with less than six months to live the option to voluntarily request, legally obtain, and self-administer medication from their physician to transition peacefully and in a dignified manner. The Act has necessary safeguards to ensure that patients are mentally capable, are making the decision of their own free will, and ensures that patients are protected from coercion or abuse in making this difficult decision. Ten other states and Washington, D.C. have similar laws without a single instance of abuse or coercion, including Oregon from which this bill is modeled and that has been in effect since 1997. A further 11 states have active legislation pending. Passing the Medical Aid in Dying Act is imperative to empower New Yorkers during one of the most important and personal decisions that only they should be allowed to make.”

Assemblymember Brian A. Cunningham (D-Brooklyn) said: “End-of-life care involves deeply personal decisions between patients, their physicians, and their loved ones. Forcing those with terminal illnesses to suffer needlessly is inhumane and outdated, and individuals should have the opportunity to decide for themselves in conjunction with their families and medical professionals. I am proud to cosponsor the Medical Aid In Dying Act, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to make this transformative legislation a reality.”

Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha (D-Dutchess/Ulster Counties) said: “This is one of the bills I hear most often about from my constituents. Seniors who've seen their loved ones die in pain are terrified that they, too, will have no choice but to die in pain. Aging and dying are already difficult experiences, and people should not have to worry that when they're terminally ill, they'll be forced to suffer. The truth is, knowing there's a choice brings a great deal of relief, whether one exercises that choice or not. We know there's wide support for this bill, and we also know that it's not by any means a substitute for the support system we need to create for those who need it but are not terminally ill. This is the year we must pass this bill.”

Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg (D-Westchester/Putnam Counties) said: “Our Medical Aid in Dying bill is legislation whose time has come. Is there anyone whose family has not been touched by the devastation of terminal illness? I know mine has. People should not be forced to linger in needless pain and suffering when they know the end is near, but not near enough. Medical Aid in Dying will offer those enduring terminal illness the choice of a peaceful death on their own terms, which is a freedom that every New Yorker deserves.”

Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-Brooklyn/Staten Island) said: “As the co-prime sponsor of the Medical Aid in Dying Act, I am proud to help champion a compassionate option for individuals grappling with terminal illness. This legislation does not push individuals towards ending their own lives–  it merely helps people who have exhausted all other avenues for relief and are in profound suffering. Our constituents who are actively seeking control over their end-of-life decisions deserve a choice– and we can help by making this bill law.”

Assemblymember Donna Lupardo (D-Broome County) said: “After years of discussion, it’s time for New York to pass Medical Aid in Dying legislation. Many states have passed similar compassionate measures to prevent unnecessary suffering for mentally competent, terminally ill patients. The bill has numerous safeguards developed with input from key stakeholders and is supported by a significant majority of the public.” 

Assemblymember Tony Simone (D-Manhattan) said: “Patients who are suffering from a terminal condition currently have the right to refuse medical treatment that would prolong their lives,” said Assemblymember Tony Simone, a co-sponsor of the bill. "But patients should have the right to end their suffering however they choose."

Assemblymember Chris Burdick (D-Westchester County) said: "I continue to be a proud cosponsor of the Medical Aid in Dying Act and will continue to advocate for its passage this session. Dying with dignity on your own terms when you are terminally ill is an option that would alleviate much grief and suffering for individuals and their families."

Senator Samra Brouk (D-Monroe County) said: “Those suffering from a terminal illness deserve to be treated with dignity and to have agency over their quality of life. The majority of New Yorkers and many of my own constituents support Medical Aid in Dying, and I’m proud to cosponsor legislation that would provide peace and comfort to those in end-of-life care.”

The Medical Aid in Dying Act is supported by numerous advocacy groups in the state including:

Barb Thomas, Issue Specialist, League of Women Voters of NYS, said: “All New Yorkers should have the right to medical assistance to end their pain and suffering when nearing death. The League of Women Voters of NYS urges legislators to support these New Yorkers by passing the Medical Aid in Dying Act this legislative session.”

Geri Barish, President, 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition, said: “As a cancer survivor, a lifelong advocate for cancer patients, and after the loss of my son and mother to cancer, I am all too familiar with the pain and suffering that comes with a terminal diagnosis. Often when all treatment options are exhausted, patients are left with no options for a peaceful death. Having the option of medical aid in dying is not giving up on life, but allowing us to make our own choice when the time comes. I urge legislators to help suffering New Yorkers and pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act this year.”

Thad Mirer, Director, Death with Dignity Albany, said: "When death looms near, hospice and palliative care provide a peaceful approach to the end of life for many persons.  When this care is not sufficient, medical aid in dying can provide a humane way to end suffering.  Death with Dignity–Albany, an independent group in the Capitol region, strongly supports the Medical Aid in Dying Act.”

Dr. Peg Sandeen, CEO of Death with Dignity, said: “Every terminally ill patient deserves the right to make critical health care choices on their own terms. New York has the opportunity to be a leader in end-of-life care by passing the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which would expand the range of options patients have when there are otherwise no options left — and we’re ready to continue our work on the ground to help the state legislature get it done.”

Mandi Zucker, Executive Director, End of Life Choices New York, said: “Over 50 years of cumulative evidence from states that authorize medical aid in dying have conclusively shown that the practice works as intended, providing dying patients with a peaceful death. Medical aid in dying has also been proven to be a safe, ethical medical practice that benefits patients and causes no harm. There is no justification for not allowing dying patients the option of medical aid in dying when other options to hasten death are permitted, including never starting or stopping life-sustaining treatments and voluntarily stopping eating and drinking. The Medical Aid in Dying Act must be passed this year.”

Sarah Kiskadden-Bechtel, Director of Public Policy & Programming, Completed Life Initiative, said: “When my Aunt Kathy died, the notion of what it means to conclude life well by having a peaceful death flashed before my eyes. My aunt’s last moments were spent in a sterile hospital bed against her religious beliefs, hooked up to a morphine drip that barely quelled the searing metastatic pain in her bones and chest. She clung to the IV drip as a modicum of the life she had known before her terminal cancer diagnosis, a life that was without the agony of the physical condition that plagued her body. My aunt’s death was inevitable. The timing of her death, however, didn’t have to be prolonged to the point where her body painfully failed her vivacious spirit. Currently, New York does not allow Medical Aid in Dying as an option for a person with a terminal diagnosis, who is someone of sound mind, is capable of making their own healthcare decisions and is acting voluntarily. If my aunt were still alive, she would have to travel to New Jersey or another state like Vermont, where aid in dying is currently legal. Imagine the indignity of being forced to leave your home, your friends and family, at your most vulnerable moments, in order to be permitted a peaceful death. If my aunt had been able to access Medical Aid in Dying, she would have been able to pass peacefully in a pasture, surrounded by her family and the horses she loved so much.”