Advocates, Physicians Join Compassion & Choices, Legislators to Kick-Off the Campaign to Stop the Suffering and Pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act in 2022
Jan 24, 2022 New York New York Medical Aid in Dying Act
Compassion & Choices was joined by dozens of advocates, physicians, state legislators, and other supporters to kick-off the campaign to Stop the Suffering and Pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act in 2022. The Act, (A.4321a/S.6471), is sponsored by Senator Diane Savino (D-Staten Island) and Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D-Westchester), along with more than 65 cosponsors in the two houses.
Medical aid in dying allows a terminally ill, mentally capable adult with six months or less to live to request prescription medication from their doctor they can take when their suffering becomes too great to bear and die peacefully. Ten states, along with Washington, D.C., including New York neighbors New Jersey and Vermont, authorize medical aid in dying.
A recent Marist poll shows strong support, 59-36 percent, for medical aid in dying among all New York voters, with majority support among Republicans, Democrats and independents, upstaters and downstaters, regardless of race or gender.
Corinne Carey, Compassion & Choices Senior New York Campaign Director, said, “We’ve lost far too many people who suffered unbearably at the end of their lives. It’s time for lawmakers to step up and do the right thing. They need to tell their constituents and New Yorkers what side they’re on. Are they on the side of compassion, evidence-based policy, strong public support from voters, and a growing list of statewide, community and grassroots organizations? Or will they choose to side with those who seek to restrict end-of-life care options for everyone based on misinformation, fear, or favoring someone else’s religious beliefs over other people’s religious beliefs?
Today, Compassion & Choices unveiled a new 30-second online ad, “In memory of Dr. Robert Milch.” Dr. Milch was the co-founder of Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo. A longtime advocate of medical aid in dying and prolific author, Dr. Milch died from cancer on June 4, 2021, at the age of 78. His wife Linda, and two of his children, Melissa and Heidi, are featured in the new ad. Melissa, and her son, Ari Klein, a high school senior (and author like his grandfather) participated in today’s news conference.
The text for the ad is as follows:
Melissa Milch: “My dad was a pioneer in hospice and palliative care. He knew that no matter what, that there will be suffering.”
Linda Milch: “He had metastatic cancer.”
Heidi Milch: “And he held my hand and he said, Banan [Heidi’s nickname], I'm just scared of suffering.”
Linda: “No one needs to suffer that way at the end of their life.”
Melissa: “Stop needless suffering.”
Linda: “Pass New York State’s Medical Aid in Dying Act.”
Senator Diane Savino (D-Staten Island), prime sponsor of S.6471, said, “This law would not have an impact on many New Yorkers, but it is the difference between a peaceful death and a death marked by pain and suffering for too many people and their families. I’ve known supporters of this bill who are no longer with us – and suffered at the end needlessly. That’s unacceptable in New York. Passing the Medical Aid in Dying Act is overdue. Let’s do it this year.”
Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale), prime sponsor of A.4321a, said, “I’ve often spoken about my sister’s horrific suffering at the end of her life. Those memories are forever seared into my mind. We must give people the choice to have a peaceful death, free from pain and suffering. Nothing will change for those who oppose medical aid in dying: no patient, no doctor, no pharmacist has to participate. Yet everything changes for those who are dying and want to avoid needless end-of-life suffering. My commitment to my sister, my constituents and all New Yorkers is to havinghave the Medical Aid in Dying Act signed into law by the governor.”
Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan), a co-sponsor of the bill, said, “This bill is about patient autonomy and dignity. For over a hundred years, New York law has recognized that adults with mental capacity have the right to refuse life-saving treatment. Morally and legally, they should have the right to end their suffering through medication if that is their own choosing. We’ve had thoughtful and passionate debates about this bill in the Health Committee before, and I look forward to moving it forward again this session towards Assembly passage.”
Dr. Jaime R. Torres, DPM, MS, President of Latinos for Healthcare Equity, said, “There is broad
[caption id="attachment_11631" align="alignright" width="411"]Dr. Jaime R. Torres, DPM, MS, President of Latinos for Healthcare Equity, speaking at 2018 news conference in support of New York Medical Aid in Dying Act.[/caption]public support for this compassionate end-of-life care option, including 70 percent of Latinos polled nationwide. I believe comforting a dying patient and relieving their suffering when no cure is possible is the highest form of healing. When I became a doctor, the oath I took was: ‘Do no harm.’ Doing nothing in the face of suffering, I believe, is to do harm. This legislation will not increase the number of terminally ill patients who will die in NY. That is out of our hands. But we can make sure that more terminally ill men and women die with dignity. Elected officials in NY have the power and opportunity to make it happen. They must do so.”
The legislation is supported by numerous advocacy groups in the state including, among others: New York Civil Liberties Union, League of Women Voters of New York State, StateWide Senior Action Council, NYS Public Health Association, Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts, NOW-NY, ACT UP NY, Harlem United, Latino Commission on AIDS, Latinos for Healthcare Equity, the WESPAC Foundation, and SAGE NY, which advocates for and provides healthcare and other services to LGBT elders.
“The time for fence-sitting has passed. Our bill number is a countdown until June: Lawmakers must take up and pass A4321a (and then S6471) now. I wish I could get every legislator who’s on the fence to listen to the words of those who are no longer with us, like Dr. Milch, those who spent their final days and weeks advocating for this compassionate end-of-life care option,” Carey said. “If they did, I'm sure they would feel the same grief and sorrow I feel. Let’s stop the needless suffering. Pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act.”