What's happening
This bill requires the New York health commissioner to study and report on medical aid in dying, including related laws and practices.
Why it matters
The bill directs a comprehensive investigation into medical aid in dying. , which means the state will gather detailed information on how these practices work in New York and elsewhere—including how requests are made, who can access them, and how eligibility is determined.
It requires the study to examine safeguards and risks. , such as how mental health assessments are done, how abuse is monitored, and what protections (like interpreter services) are in place for vulnerable groups.
The scope extends to practical impacts. , including how health and life insurance interact with medical aid in dying, how hospice services fit in, and what kinds of data and reporting are available about people who use these services.
Findings and recommendations must be reported to top state officials and lawmakers. , meaning the results could directly inform future legislation, regulations, or public debate on medical aid in dying in New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Medical Aid in Dying
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
9 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
30
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. CAHILL, JAFFEE, SEAWRIGHT, ZEBROWSKI, BARRON, RAIA, BLAKE, GLICK, ARROYO, BICHOTTE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, DICKENS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT in relation to requiring the commissioner of health to conduct a study relating to medical aid in dying
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. (a) The commissioner of health is hereby authorized and directed to study the issues, implications, practices, licensure requirements and other topics related to medical aid in dying.
(b) The study shall include, but not be limited to, the following topics related to medical aid in dying: statutes currently in effect across the United States and elsewhere; program implementation; written and oral request processes; rescission of a patient's request; existing clinical criteria used by physicians to determine whether a patient is eligible; the specific type of physicians or medical professionals who are legally authorized to respond to a patient's inquiries or request for the end-of-life medication or assistance; the physicians' responsibilities and duties; the consulting physician's responsibilities and duties; the referral process to mental health professionals; the type of medical record documentation requirements; how physicians respond to a patient's inquiry; how physicians assess patients' decision making capabilities; the use of an interpreter in circumstances where one is requested, required or appropriate; procedures administered including the types and doses of prescription medications provided if any; information statistical and other regarding people who have used medical aid in dying; an appraisal of reported abuse, if any, of medical aid in dying; regular reporting requirements; issues involving health or life insurance coverage; an examination of current hospice services across
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00024-01-9
A. 30 2
New York state; and any other topic or issue required to conduct this study.
(c) The commissioner of health shall submit a report including recommendations and findings based on this study to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly and the chairs of the senate and assembly standing committees on health no later than December 31, 2020.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.