This law was enacted largely due to advocacy from End of Life Choices New York, despite opposition from the Medical Society of the State of New York, and it has resulted in a great deal of training on palliative care and the rights of patients regarding choices at the end of life.

As a result of this law, terminally ill patients now have a clearly defined right to receive information and counseling about their palliative care and end of life options, including hospice. This will enable them to make informed treatment decisions during the final months of their lives.

The Law States

If a patient is diagnosed with a terminal illness or condition, the patient’s attending health care practitioner shall offer to provide the patient with information and counseling regarding palliative care and end-of- life options, including but not limited to:

• the range of options appropriate to the patient
• the prognosis
• risks and benefits of the various options
• legal rights to comprehensive pain and symptom management at the end of life

If you are a patient who may have a terminal illness or a healthcare professional working with a patient whom you believe may have a terminal illness, and a health care practitioner has not offered information and counseling, discuss this with your doctor.

Studies Demonstrate the Need for the PCIA

• Dying patients are not sufficiently informed of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options.
• The vast majority of dying patients want to know their diagnosis and prognosis.
• The lack of physician-patient end-of-life discussions results in hospice referrals only very near death or not at all.
• Patients have a better quality of life and better deaths and may even live longer if they have end-of-life discussion with their doctors.