By September, Illinois will become the 13th state—plus the District of Columbia—where medical aid in dying is legal, bringing nearly a third of all Americans into jurisdictions where terminally ill patients can access physician-assisted death. New York’s law, which was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in February, will take effect August 5, following the state Assembly’s June 2025 approval.
Public support for medical aid in dying remains strong. A Pew Research Center survey found that nearly two-thirds of respondents didn’t consider the practice “morally wrong,” with majorities across political lines finding “physician-assisted death” permissible—including a narrow majority of Republicans and 76% of Democrats. In New York specifically, a Siena poll found 54% of respondents supported aid in dying, including majorities of men and women, all age groups, and city, suburban, and upstate residents. Oregon’s law, enacted in 1997 as the first in the country, has provided nearly 30 years of implementation data that policymakers cite as evidence of the practice’s acceptance.
However, accessing medical aid in dying remains restrictive. In every state except Montana, the practice is available only to people with incurable illnesses expected to die within six months. Oregon became the first state to eliminate residency requirements, followed by Vermont after Compassion & Choices brought lawsuits; courts ruled against a similar suit in New Jersey. The process typically requires oral and written requests to two doctors with mandated waiting periods, and patients must have mental capacity to make the decision, disqualifying those with dementia. Despite broad support, actual usage remains low—typically 1% or fewer of annual deaths in every state.
New York’s law included an amendment requiring a psychologist or psychiatrist in the approval process. Opponents, including Catholic leadership and disability rights organizations, argue that aid in dying laws discriminate against people with disabilities. The American Medical Association has stated that “physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer” and poses “serious societal risks.” Any doctor, hospital, or healthcare system can decline to provide aid in dying, with religiously affiliated institutions frequently opting out. The trend has been toward loosening restrictions—California reduced its waiting period from 15 days to 48 hours, and New Mexico now allows physician assistants and advanced-practice nurses to write prescriptions alongside doctors.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://kffhealthnews.org/aging/physician-assisted-death-suicide-medical-aid-in-dying-legal-new-york-illinois/