Today, NYSILC submitted a formal letter [read here] to Governor Kathy Hochul expressing serious concerns about the proposed “Medical Aid in Dying Act” (A.136/S.138). The legalization of physician-assisted suicide poses significant risks to people with disabilities, older adults, and other marginalized groups. NYSILC is concerned with the lack of adequate safeguards, the potential for abuse, and the influence of ableist bias in medical decision-making.
New York should be investing in quality palliative care, accessible services, and mental health support, not making suicide more accessible for people facing the challenges of serious illness and disability. For all these reasons, NYSILC strongly urges Governor Hochul to stand with members of the disabled community in affirming that all lives—regardless of ability or diagnosis—are valuable, dignified, and worthy of protection.