Can I fit everything into one newsletter??!!!?!

Mandi Zucker

December 10, 2025

Live How You Like, Leave How You Like

With each passing day, we are more confident that Governor Hochul will ultimately sign the Medical Aid in Dying Bill into law before the end of the year. A recent article in the Gothamist shared leaked proposed amendments suggested by the governor, indicating that she is carefully considering signing this bill, albeit with some changes. While we are comfortable with the bill as it was agreed upon in both houses of the legislature, and are concerned with some of the proposed changes, we feel good that this option will soon become accessible to New Yorkers. We will also continue to advocate for changes to the law once enacted that will make the option of medical aid in dying more accessible to everyone. Read our response to this article below.

I have written about some of the work we are doing to prepare for the implementation of this law, and will be sharing even more with you in the next few weeks, but please know that we are using an extraordinary amount of resources to make sure that healthcare workers, hospital systems, families and caregivers, and senior serving organizations are aware of and prepared for the option of medical aid in dying at the end of life.

Thank you all for learning, supporting and advocating with us. I hear from many of you every week to thank us for the work we are doing. And while I appreciate that, I also want you to know that we feel the same way! Your continued support (i.e. financial gifts, attendance at educational presentations, introductions to organizations that could use our services, sharing this newsletter with friends) has allowed us to do this work and we are honored to partner with you.

Wishing you all a very happy holiday season. More to come!

Please join our end of year campaign and donate generously today.

Sincerely,

Mandi Zucker, LSW
Executive Director

Recent Events & Updates

Join Us Around the State!

We have several free and open-to-the-public events in the next few weeks, both online and in person. Join us:

Legacy League, December 11 from 10-11:30 on Zoom. A Legacy League is End of Life Choices New York’s version of a “Death Cafe”—an informal, no-agenda get-together to talk about death and dying. Legacy Leagues will be hosted on the second Thursday of the month on zoom, and the fourth Thursday of the month in person. The next one will be on zoom. Register here.
Meet-n-Greet, December 17 from 12- 1 PM on Zoom. Join us for a one-hour information session to understand our mission and the work we are doing on behalf of terminally-ill New Yorkers. Introduce yourself and be prepared to be inspired by the work! Register here.

EOLCNY in your Ear!

Are you a podcast listener? If you prefer to listen to your news, we have two opportunities for you:

Mandi Zucker was recently interviewed on the Death with Dignity Podcast. This podcast began with Andrew Flack, a 33-year old who died from cancer using medical aid in dying. The episode, titled New York’s Monumental Bill – Episode 25, can be listened to here!
David Hoffman, former EOLCNY Board Member, was recently interviewed on The Free Press’ Honestly with Bari Weiss. He engaged in a lively debate about the pros and cons of medical aid in dying. You can listen to this podcast here.

End of Life Choices New York responds to Gothamist Article Suggesting MAID Amendments

We have been made aware of Governor Hochul’s proposed amendments to the Medical Aid in Dying Act published in The Gothamist, which passed the legislature in the spring, and we have spoken with our allies on this long quest – both in and out of government.
A governor offering amendments to a bill of this magnitude is not unusual, and we are happy to work with her office and legislative leaders to compromise wherever possible to ensure that Medical Aid in Dying becomes law in New York State.
We look forward to speaking with Governor Hochul’s office over the next few days and then to her signing the bill by the end of this year.
Hopefully, terminally ill New Yorkers can enter 2026 knowing that – if needed – they will have the ability to end their lives in a manner and at a time of their choosing instead of needlessly suffering from a disease or illness out of their control.

— Mandi Zucker, Executive Director, End of Life Choices New York

Ask Us Anything

Q: What happens to someone without a living will/health care agent if their heart stops beating?

A: There are no guarantees that your wishes will be respected if you don’t have a health care agent or a document stating your wishes. it is likely that doctors will default to providing life-saving treatment. Typically, this means you will receive CPR, intubation or other emergency interventions to keep you alive, even if that is not what you would want.

If you have a question you’d like answered, send it here!

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