New York Senate Narrowly Passes Controversial Medical Aid in Dying Bill, Eyes Now on Hochul

By: Fern Sidman

In a landmark and deeply divisive move, the New York State Senate on Monday narrowly passed legislation that would allow terminally ill adults to end their lives with the assistance of a physician, setting the stage for a pivotal decision by Governor Kathy Hochul. The bill, known as the “Medical Aid in Dying Act,” passed by a 35–27 vote after a heated three-hour debate, marking a significant moment in the state’s history and drawing both fervent praise and fierce condemnation from across the political and social spectrum.

As reported by The New York Post, the measure’s passage was hailed by supporters as a major step forward for personal autonomy, while critics warned it could endanger the vulnerable and erode ethical standards in healthcare.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan), characterized the legislation as one of the state’s most meaningful social reforms. Speaking at a press conference before the vote, Hoylman-Sigal placed the bill alongside historic measures such as the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York.

“This is about personal autonomy, this is about liberty, this is about exercising one’s own freedom to control one’s body,” he said, underscoring what he and advocates believe is a fundamental human right.

Despite Democratic control of the Senate, the vote was far from a unanimous party-line decision. Six Democrats — April Baskin, Siela Bynoe, Cordelle Cleare, Monica Martinez, Roxanne Persaud, and Sam Sutton — broke ranks to oppose the bill, highlighting its contentious nature even within the majority party.

With the bill’s fate now in the hands of Governor Kathy Hochul, all eyes are on Albany. “The governor will review the legislation,” a spokesperson said Monday, offering no immediate hint as to whether she will sign the bill into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without her signature.

Hochul’s decision is likely to be closely scrutinized by advocacy groups on both sides of the issue. The New York Post report noted that her office has been inundated with calls from religious leaders, disability rights activists, and medical professionals urging her to veto the bill.

The bill was championed by organizations like Compassion and Choices, which described it as a compassionate, reasoned option for people facing terminal illness and unbearable suffering. Corinne Carey, the group’s senior campaign director, said in a statement that the law would bring peace and dignity to those in their final days.

“The option of medical aid in dying provides comfort, allowing those who are dying to live their time more fully and peacefully until the end,” Carey wrote, as per The New York Post report. She expressed gratitude toward Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for facilitating what she described as a respectful and emotional legislative process.

Supporters also stress the law’s safeguards. According to the bill, patients seeking aid in dying must be diagnosed with a terminal illness and expected to die within six months. They must be mentally competent, make two verbal requests, and submit a written request witnessed by two individuals. Two physicians must confirm the diagnosis and prognosis. Doctors may, but are not required to, refer patients for mental health evaluations if they suspect impairment.

Despite these built-in protocols, opponents have voiced deep concern over what they view as insufficient protections. The report in The New York Post indicated that disability rights groups, the Catholic Church, and Orthodox Jewish organizations have long argued that such laws normalize suicide, pose risks to vulnerable populations, and create space for abuse or coercion.

“The Governor still has the opportunity to uphold New York’s commitment to suicide prevention, protect vulnerable communities, and affirm that every life — regardless of disability, age, or diagnosis — is worthy of care, dignity, and protection,” declared the New York Alliance Against Assisted Suicide following the Senate vote.

Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, issued a sharply worded statement calling the day “a dark day for New York.”

“For the first time in its history, New York is on the verge of authorizing doctors to help their patients commit suicide,” Poust warned, according to The New York Post report.  “Make no mistake – this is only the beginning, and the only person standing between New York and the assisted suicide nightmare unfolding in Canada is Governor Hochul.”

Also weighing in on this controversial issue was the Agudath Israel of America, representing Torah Jewry in the United States. In a statement sent to the media on Monday, the group said: “Today is a dark day in New York State, as the Senate voted, 35 to 27, to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act (S.138) to legalize physician-assisted suicide. The Assembly passed the same bill in April; it now goes to Governor Kathy Hochul for signature.

The bill would allow physicians, at the request of patients, to write prescriptions for lethal drugs for patients who are believed by two physicians as having less than six months left to live.

As an Orthodox Jewish organization, Agudath Israel of America is guided by the timeless principle that life is sacred. Our tradition teaches that every human being is created in the image of G-d, and that every moment of life has infinite value. Society legalizing coordinated killing, even in the difficult situation where the victim is in pain, erodes that value, and tells the vulnerable among us that their lives don’t matter. The Medical Aid in Dying Act sends precisely such a dangerous and destructive message.

Agudath Israel has long advocated on behalf of terminally ill patients, particularly through its Chayim Aruchim division. Through this firsthand experience, Agudath Israel has witnessed our healthcare system marginalize the care of the elderly and patients viewed as “a burden.” It has seen many patients in which a doctor issued a grim diagnosis live rich, fulfilling lives well after their doctors’ darkest predictions were pronounced. What is more, such factors as the prevalence of depression among patients seeking to end their lives, the potential for medical misdiagnoses, the influence of family members, potential inheritors, and other financial pressures can lead patients to make irreversible decisions to end their lives prematurely.

Rabbi David Zwiebel, Agudath Israel’s executive vice president, bemoaned the Senate’s vote. “Since time immemorial, civilized societies have drawn a hard line on the issue of suicide. Taking one’s own life is a tragedy of untold proportion. Allowing physicians – whose calling is to heal – to serve as active accomplices in bringing about this tragedy of taking human life is a profound moral and practical misstep.”

“For the last decade, Agudath Israel has been an important part of a coalition of religious and disability rights groups opposing this legislation,” added Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Agudath Israel’s Director of New York Government Relations. “We have met dozens of legislators on this issue, testified publicly and sent out numerous action alerts. We are deeply disappointed at today’s vote and strongly urge Governor Hochul to veto this bill.”

The Senate debate brought lawmakers to the brink of tears as they recounted personal stories that shaped their views. State Sen. Rachel May (D-Onondaga), whose husband died at age 32 from cancer, delivered one of the most poignant speeches.

“I don’t know if the last largest dose he took also took his life, but I know that he died in peace,” she said. “It isn’t about controlling the disease or controlling the pain — it’s about having control at the end of your life.”

Yet others were not convinced. Critics argued that the bill lacks crucial mechanisms such as a statutory waiting period, required in-person evaluations, and a clearly documented chain of custody for the life-ending medication, the New York Post report noted. There is also no legal mandate to disclose whether a death occurred through the use of prescribed drugs under the act.

The debate surrounding the Medical Aid in Dying Act is far from over. If signed into law, New York would join 11 other jurisdictions across the United States where physician-assisted dying is legal. But as The New York Post report pointed out, the state’s version of the law is being closely scrutinized for how it compares with similar laws elsewhere, particularly regarding oversight and patient protections.

Sen. Hoylman-Sigal pushed back against fears of unintended consequences, saying the bill was shaped by “state-of-the-art safeguards” and extensive consultation with medical professionals and legal experts. “I believe the assurance is there that there will not be unintended consequences,” he said.

Nevertheless, critics remain unconvinced, and the divide between the two sides remains stark.

As New York approaches a critical decision point, the passage of the Medical Aid in Dying Act represents both a profound moment of personal empowerment for some and a harrowing ethical dilemma for others. With Governor Hochul now holding the deciding vote, the state’s trajectory on one of the most emotionally charged and morally complex issues of our time hangs in the balance.

Whether viewed as a compassionate right or a dangerous precedent, the legislation has brought end-of-life issues to the forefront of political and public discourse — and has done so in unmistakably New York fashion: through deeply personal stories, passionate advocacy, and a razor-thin margin that underscores just how divided the state remains.