02/09/2026
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I am pleased to report that the Medical Aid in Dying Act was signed into law on Friday. I was a proud co-sponsor of this bill, which was spearheaded in the Assembly by my colleague Assemblywoman Amy R. Paulin.
The law provides that mentally competent, terminally ill adults may request self-administered medication to end their own lives. Extensive guardrails were included to ensure that a decision of such magnitude is not taken lightly. Two physicians must independently verify that a patient has six months or less to live and, alongside a mental health professional, the mental capacity to give informed consent. Patients must record an oral request and submit a written request signed by at least two adult witnesses. Providers will not be held responsible for good-faith assistance in dying or for refusing to participate.
Finally, we have ensured that a patient’s insurance coverage, including life and health insurance, will not be affected by their decision of whether or not to use medical aid in dying.
Terminally ill patients deserve a full range of end-of-life options, a decision that many of us will eventually face. This law offers our loved ones, ourselves, and each other the right to death with dignity.
