What You Need To Know About New York’s Aid In Dying Act

April 29, 2025, the New York State Assembly passed the Medical Aid in Dying Act,  according to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Assembly Health Committee Chair Amy Paulin. The Medical Aid in Dying Act would allow a terminally ill patient to request medication to end their life peacefully.

This act would provide a mentally competent, terminally ill adult who has been given a prognosis of six months or less to live the ability to request medication from their treating physician for medical aid in dying.

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According to the announcement from Hestie and Paulin, some safeguards would require both an oral request and a witnessed written request for the medication, as well as requiring at least two physicians to determine that the patient can make an informed decision on this request.

This is about giving individuals autonomy, dignity, and choice at the end of their lives. This legislation will give people the ability to choose to go peacefully in their sleep, and ensure there are critical safeguards in place. Thank you to Assemblymember Amy Paulin for her tireless advocacy and hard work on this legislation. - NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie

The announcement also notes that insurers would be prohibited from recommending or providing information on medical aid in dying to patients, including alongside denial of coverage notices for other treatments. Legislation would give legal protections for the patients and their physicians.

For a decade, we have fought for this compassionate, commonsense legislation. Today, we honor the brave advocates we have lost and fulfill a promise to countless New Yorkers who deserve autonomy, dignity, and peace at life’s end. It's time. I’m deeply grateful to Speaker Carl Heastie for his leadership and unwavering commitment to bringing this bill to the floor, it would not have been possible without his support. - NYS Assemblymember Amy Paulin

California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Washington, D.C., all permit medical aid in dying.