New York — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that New York will soon legalize medically assisted death, positioning the state to join a growing list of U.S. jurisdictions that allow terminally ill patients to end their lives with medical supervision.
The measure, expected to take effect later in 2026, follows years of legislative debate and advocacy from right-to-die supporters who argue that terminally ill patients deserve the right to die with dignity and control over their final days. The legislation, known as the End-of-Life Options Act, permits mentally competent adults with a terminal diagnosis to request life-ending medication from a licensed physician.
“This is about compassion, personal choice, and relief from needless suffering,” Hochul said during a press conference in Albany. “New Yorkers should have the freedom to make deeply personal decisions about their own care at the end of life.”
The new law includes several safeguards, including mandatory psychological evaluations, a waiting period, and the presence of two witnesses when a patient makes a written request. Physicians must also confirm that the patient is terminally ill and acting voluntarily.
“I was taught that God is merciful and compassionate, and so must we be,” she wrote in her opinion piece. “This includes permitting a merciful option to those facing the unimaginable and searching for comfort in their final months in this life.”
Supporters hailed the decision as a landmark moment for patient rights. “This is a victory for compassion,” said Corinne Carey, director of the advocacy group Compassion & Choices New York. “It gives people facing unbearable suffering a choice.”
Opponents, including some religious organizations and disability rights advocates, warned that the law could pressure vulnerable patients to choose death over care. The Catholic Conference of New York criticized the move, calling it “a dangerous erosion of society’s commitment to protecting life.”
With this announcement, New York becomes the 12th state, along with Washington, Oregon, and New Jersey, to authorize physician-assisted death. Implementation rules are expected to be finalized in the coming months.
