January 23, 2017: Compassion & Choices New York Campaign Director Corinne Carey joined Senator Diane Savino (IDC-Staten Island), Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D-Westchester), Assembly Health Committee Chair Dick Gottfried (D-Manhattan), other legislators and supporters to announce the reintroduction of the Medical Aid in Dying Act for 2017 at a Capitol news conference on Monday, January 23. It was attended by many C&C and Death with Dignity-Albany supporters and was widely covered by the media.
The text of the bill is available on the Assembly Website.
Many statewide organizations have announced their support for aid in dying legislation, including New York StateWide Senior Action Council, End of Life Choices New York, MPAC (Mobilizing Preachers & Communities), Harlem United, Housing Works, Adirondack Voters for Change and Secular Coalition for New York. In addition, a growing number of national organizations representing healthcare professionals have endorsed or taken a neutral position on medical aid in dying, including the American Medical Women’s Association, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Academy of Legal Medicine, American Medical Student Association and American Public Health Association.
A robust campaign is underway to move this bill through the Assembly Health committee and the Codes committee. You can help! Suggestions for taking action are on the Take Action page of our website, and you can participate in events such as the legislative Lobby Day on May 9.