The New York State Catholic Conference urged Governor Kathy Hochul to veto a bill legalizing assisted suicide after the legislation passed in the Senate on Monday, June 9.
“This is a dark day for New York State. For the first time in its history, New York is on the verge of authorizing doctors to help their patients commit suicide,” said Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, in a statement posted on social media.
The New York State Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic bishops of New York.
On Monday, June 9, the state’s Senate voted 35-27 to pass a bill allowing a physician to prescribe medication that an ill patient would use to end their own life. Under the bill, a person would be eligible to receive physician-assisted suicide if they have a "terminal illness or condition" along with the ability to make an informed decision.
The bill defines "terminal illness" as "an incurable and irreversible illness or condition that has been medically confirmed and will, within reasonable medical judgment, produce death within six months."
Hochul is "only person" preventing New York from becoming Canada
Gov. Hochul, said Poust, is “the only person standing between New York and the assisted suicide nightmare unfolding in Canada.”
In Canada, one out of every 20 deaths is from euthanasia. Euthanasia was first legalized in Canada in 2016, and in 2021, a court eliminated the eligibility requirement that a person’s death be “reasonably foreseeable.”
Legalizing assisted suicide, said Poust, “would be catastrophic for medically underserved communities, including communities of color, as well as for people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations who will be at the mercy of a healthcare industry that will soon be reeling from federal Medicaid cuts.”
“Governor Hochul has acted boldly to address the suicide crisis in our state and has made access to mental health care a hallmark of her tenure as Governor, with historic investments the last two years. This bill undermines those priorities,” he said.
The bill passed in the New York legislature “contains no requirement for a psychological screening for depression or other mental illness, and not even so much as a brief waiting period for people who might be in despair following a terminal diagnosis,” he said.
“We fully expect the Governor will also hear the concerns of the disabilities community, which has expressed grave concern that they will be coerced toward assisted suicide due to loss of independence or bodily function.”
Suicide, said Poust, is never a solution to a problem.
“Instead, we call on New York State to expand palliative and hospice care, mental health services, and family caregiver support,” he said, adding, “We look forward to continuing to work with the Governor on these priorities following her veto of this disastrous bill.”
Assisted suicide in the United States
If Gov. Hochul signs the bill into law, New York will join California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington in legalizing assisted suicide.
Several other states, including Massachusetts and Illinois, are currently considering bills that would make the practice legal in those states as well.
