Compassion and Choices—a national nonprofit dedicated to improving care for dying people and empowering them to chart their end-of-life journey—is asking New Yorkers who share those goals to sign a petition in support of the Medical Aid in Dying Act. 

Originally introduced in 2015, the bill currently is in the Health Committee of both houses of the New York State Assembly and has more than 60 cosponsors. If it passes, New York would join the ranks of 10 other US states and D.C. that allow a terminally ill, mentally capable adult with a prognosis of six months or less to live to have the option to request, obtain and decide to ingest medication to die peacefully in their sleep if suffering is unbearable. The bill is modeled after the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, which has been in effect for more than 20 years without a single instance of abuse or coercion.  

“We believe that with one in five Americans having access to this compassionate end-of-life care option, the time is now for New York lawmakers to stop the suffering and pass the bill,” says Amanda Cavanaugh, New York and New Jersey campaign manager for Compassion and Choices. 

According to C&C’s website, the organization “envision(s) a society that affirms life and accepts the inevitability of death, embraces expanded options for compassionate dying, and empowers everyone to choose end-of-life care that reflects their values, priorities and beliefs.” 

New Yorkers who would like to support the Medical Aid in Dying Act are asked to sign this petition.

For more info, visit CompassionAndChoices.org.