Medical aid in dying is now authorized in New York. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Medical Aid in Dying Act on February 6, 2026. The law will take effect on August 5, 2026, expanding end-of-life options for terminally ill New Yorkers and affirming their right to make informed, compassionate decisions at the end of life.
This landmark achievement is the result of more than a decade of advocacy led by Compassion & Choices, alongside allied organizations and hundreds of New Yorkers who shared their stories, raised their voices, and urged lawmakers to act. Together, they helped build the understanding and momentum necessary to pass this long-awaited legislation.
Compassion & Choices extends deep gratitude to Governor Hochul for signing the bill into law, and to the legislative champions who made this moment possible: Assemblymember Amy Paulin, who carried the bill from its original introduction in 2015 through enactment; Senator Diane Savino, who advanced the legislation during key years; Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who shepherded it through passage in both chambers; and Senator Gustavo Rivera, who sponsored the bill at the finish line.
Additional information about implementation, guidance, and access will be posted as it becomes available. Please check back on this page for updates, and visit our events page for information about upcoming educational and community events.
Send a note of gratitude of your own to your elected officials, Assemblymember Paulin, Senator Hoylman-Sigal, and Governor Kathy Hochul.
Compassion Legal: The End-of-Life Justice Center at Compassion & Choices, spoke out forcefully Thursday after a group of plaintiffs — led by the anti-medical-aid-in-dying group Institute for Patients’ Rights — sued Gov. Kathy Hochul’s and Gov. JB Pritzker’s administrations in an effort to block implementation of the medical aid-in-dying laws in New York and Illinois. …
Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement today, that she intends to sign the Medical Aid in Dying Act (A.136/S.138) – subject to chapter amendments – next month, will make New York the 14th U.S. jurisdiction to authorize this compassionate end-of-life option.
I am so glad that terminally ill people in Illinois will now have the option of medical aid in dying thanks to Governor Pritzker and the Illinois legislature doing the right thing for the people of their state.
As part of the event, 2,500 candles were placed throughout Chase Park to symbolize the number of New Yorkers who die of cancer each month.
When Annie lost her husband of 25 years to ALS in 2020, she couldn’t have imagined she’d soon face the same diagnosis. Now, her journey has ignited a powerful commitment—to embrace her new reality with purpose and joy and to fight for Medical Aid in Dying for all New Yorkers.
Stacey Gibson of Garrison, in New York’s Hudson Valley, joined the end-of-life options movement in 2015 after her husband, Sid, died a horrible death after he stopped eating and drinking in the final stages of a debilitating progressive neurological disease. Among the vanguard of New York’s volunteers for the entire decade-long legislative campaign, Stacey shared…
La Gobernadora Hochul tiene la oportunidad de hacer lo correcto considerando los méritos obtenidos que también coinciden con la postura de la mayoría de los votantes neoyorquinos. Hay que Ganar, Ganar
“Gov. Hochul has the opportunity to do the right thing on the merits, which also happens to be the position of the majority of New York voters. Win, win.”
By Corinne Carey, New York Campaign Senior Director A June 14 column by Ross Douthat in The New York Times, “Why the Euthanasia Slope Is Slippery,” is built on a mistaken idea. Because it gathered a fair amount of attention, I want to explain why his argument just doesn’t hold up. Douthat argued that “you…
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The New York State Department of Health has released proposed regulations to implement the Medical Aid in Dying Act, an important step toward ensuring that eligible terminally ill New Yorkers can access this option when the law takes effect on August 5, 2026. The regulations provide guidance on key aspects of the law, including eligibility, the request process, self-administration requirements, and provider responsibilities. The Department is currently accepting public comments on the proposed regulations and has announced that additional public information, comprehensive guidance, and implementation resources will be made available in the coming weeks through its website. Please check back for updates as new information becomes available.
You can see information about the regulations and the forthcoming guidance by visiting the Department’s website by clicking the button below.
