New York moves toward medical aid in dying with strengthened safeguards

New York lawmakers passed amendments to the Medical Aid in Dying Act, setting up a pathway for terminally ill patients with less than six months to live to request life-ending medication. Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to sign the amended bill, which adds safeguards such as residency requirements, a video or audio request, a five-day waiting period, two-doctor evaluations, and mental health screening, and imposes rules on witnesses with financial interests. A six-month implementation period for the Health Department to draft regulations accompanies the bill, potentially making New York the 14th state to legalize aid in dying.