Now that the New York state budget has finally passed, advocates are pushing Albany lawmakers to legalize assisted suicide in the waning weeks of the legislative session. If passed, Bill S.2445-Hoylman-Sigal/A.995-Paulin would make it legal for terminally-ill persons to obtain lethal drugs via prescription for the purpose of ending their lives.
On May 10, 2023, the misleadingly-named group known as Compassion & Choices held an event in Albany to promote the assisted suicide bill. In a truly bizarre twist, the event was described as a “Mother’s Day commemoration for state legislators.” The gathering was attended by Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan) and Asm. Amy Paulin (D-Westchester), the two lead sponsors of the legislation. According to the organization’s press release, the event featured adult children talking about the deaths of their mothers. A photo of the event shows Asm. Paulin standing beside a screen that displayed the following words: “Celebrate Every MOMent – Medical Aid in Dying: The Compassionate Gift Mom Really Wants.”
Describing an assisted suicide bill as a Mother’s Day gift is both ghoulish and politically tone-deaf. More importantly, however, it is unbelievably disrespectful to mothers everywhere. A mother facing a terminal illness should receive love and care from her children—not a bottle of suicide pills.
New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (NYCF) has opposed the assisted suicide bill ever since it was first introduced in 2016. While the bill was approved by the Assembly Health Committee in May 2016, it has not been considered by any Senate or Assembly committee since then. Furthermore, by the grace of God, the bill has not received a floor vote in either house of the New York State Legislature. Defeating this bill in 2023 is a major priority for NYCF and for our allies at the New York Alliance Against Assisted Suicide. To help us achieve this goal, please visit our action center and write your elected officials today to urge them to oppose assisted suicide.