At a historic moment for the rights of terminally ill patients, the New York legislature has passed a bill allowing those suffering from incurable diseases to legally end their lives through the use of prescribed medications. The bill, now awaiting the signature of Governor Kathy Hochul, paves the way for a difficult choice that many consider an act of dignity and personal autonomy.
The proposal permits terminally ill patients to request lethal substances, provided their application is approved by two doctors. This measure aims to offer a respectful alternative to prolonged suffering, allowing severely ill individuals to die on their own terms without enduring unbearable pain or a prolonged medical ordeal. Democratic Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized that the law is not intended to hasten death, but rather to end the suffering of those with no hope of recovery.
Opposing views have not been lacking; many have expressed ethical and religious concerns. Some opponents argue that the state should instead invest in improving palliative care and end-of-life services rather than authorizing a controversial practice like assisted suicide.
The New York law fits into the broader national debate on this issue, which divides opinions and legislation across the United States. Most states that have legalized the so-called “Death with Dignity” laws impose strict conditions for the administration of euthanasia-related medications, generally limiting it to patients with a prognosis of six months or less. Among them, states such as Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, and Vermont have had similar laws for years.
In 2023, Oregon, where the practice was legalized in 1997, recorded 233 prescriptions for lethal drugs, with 171 people actually taking them and 156 related deaths. In 2022, California reported 1,130 deaths attributed to assisted death, while Colorado recorded 246 in 2021.
However, most American states still do not allow this option or restrict it severely, and the public debate often centers around the tension between individual autonomy, medical ethics, and cultural or religious values.
