The Medical Aid in Dying Act will soon be delivered to Governor Hochul’s desk for her to sign or veto. This dangerous legislation threatens the lives and civil rights of people with disabilities under the guise of compassion. It allows physicians to prescribe lethal drugs based on a subjective prediction of terminal illness—a prediction that is often inaccurate. Supporters argue physician oversight will protect disabled patients, but the data tells a different story: 82.4% of physicians view individuals with significant disabilities as having a lower quality of life. This danger is compounded by the fact that basic services and supports people with disabilities rely on to live independently and with dignity are being attacked at the State and federal level.
According to the 2024 Death with Dignity Annual Report from Oregon, the top reasons people choose assisted suicide include:
•Loss of autonomy (88.6%)
•Reduced ability to engage in enjoyable activities (87.8%)
•Feeling like a burden on family, friends, or caregivers (42%)

It is clear that assisted suicide is a disability issue. Please send a message to Governor Hochul and encourage her to veto S.138 (Hoylman-Sigal)/A.136 (Paulin). New Yorkers deserve access to community support and services, including hospice and palliative care. Suicide should not be promoted as a substitute for this care.

ACTION: Take action and tell Governor Hochul that disability is not a fate worse than death! You can personalize the message based on your own experience.