Disability advocates rail against New York Assembly’s passage of assisted suicide bill

The New York Assembly passed a bill Tuesday to legalize assisted suicide in the state, by a vote of 81-67. The Medical Aid in Dying Act (A136) would allow adults who are considered to be terminally ill with six months or less to live to be prescribed lethal drugs.

During debate, Assemblywoman Karines Reyes argued that it would be “inhumane” to deprive someone of the opportunity to commit suicide. “If you don’t believe in it, then don’t avail yourself of that choice, but I think it is inhumane for us to tell people that we are forcing them to continue their suffering,” Reyes said.

Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh disagreed. “Each and every life has value,” she said. “Progress may not be on a straight line and will look different to each of us, but this idea of giving up and dying is not ‘excelsior, ever upward’. It’s incredibly sad,” she said, referencing the state’s motto.

Multiple organizations have spoken out against the legislation, including the New York State Catholic Conference. “New York state should instead strengthen palliative care, improve health care services and counseling for people in crisis and show America what real compassion looks like,” said Robert Bellafiore, the group’s spokesman.

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The Center for Disability Rights released a statement warning that the passage of assisted suicide would be catastrophic for those within the disability community. “Make no mistake: assisted suicide places a bullseye on the backs of terminally ill New Yorkers and Disabled New Yorkers,” said Max Rodriguez, manager of government affairs. “This legislation signals that the lives of the sick and the disabled are less worthwhile — and less worthy of protection — than the lives of other New Yorkers.”

“If the Legislature legalizes this lethal bill, it will only be a matter of time before advocates push to expand the availability of assisted suicide to people who are not terminally ill, as we have seen in other states,” he added. “Furthermore, assisted suicide would make the state and insurers even less inclined to fund expensive medical care, and would thus push sick and disabled individuals toward death instead of care.”

The New York Association on Independent Living noted that the diagnosis of six months or less to live is completely subjective and “a prediction that is often inaccurate.” Live Action News recently reported on a man who was told he would die within months, only to later learn that his diagnosis was completely wrong. That man is still alive today, and speaking out against the dangers of assisted suicide legislation.

The measure next heads to the state Senate for consideration.