Important information about Medical Aid in Dying in NY!

We have all been frustrated with the lack of movement to pass Medical Aid in Dying in New York. But we have some promising news from Albany! In the past few days, there has been significant movement and the situation is changing every day!

We want to make as much noise as we can in the last few days before the legislature adjourns until January. If you are able, please reach out to Corinne Carey at Compassion and Choices for information about how you can help push this bill forward.

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If you would like to advocate without leaving your home, there are some very important letters that need to be sent by as many people as possible! Use the below text to send to your legislators:

Dear [elected official],

I want you to know that I am among the 77 percent of New York residents who support medical aid-in-dying legislation. I strongly urge you to support the Medical Aid in Dying Act (A.995/S.2445). The bill has been stalled for 8 long years, and every legislator has a role to play in ending the needless suffering terminally ill New Yorkers face. Will you support the bill?

This bill would give terminally ill, mentally capable adults with less than six months to live access to the full range of choices at the end of life, including medical aid in dying. It offers hope and peace of mind to thousands every year who are confronting the possibility of a prolonged, painful death.

There are now eleven jurisdictions (ten states and the District of Columbia) where the right to choose your own, peaceful ending is affirmed either by legislation, the courts, or popular ballot. The Medical Aid in Dying Act is modeled after legislation in Oregon and other states where it has a proven track record of success.

How we die, like how we live, should be a personal choice. Momentum for medical aid-in-dying legislation is growing across the country. I ask you to help make New York the next state to authorize this option.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

The following people need to hear from you with the above text. Please email or call as many as you can! If you can only make two calls, please call Speaker Carl Heastie and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Speaker Carl Heastie - Speaker@nyassembly.gov (518) 455-3791

Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins - scousins@nysenate.gov (518) 455-2585

Assemblymember William Colton (Brooklyn) - ColtonW@nyassembly.gov (518) 455-4100

Assemblymember Bill Magnarelli (Syracuse) - MagnarW@nyassembly.gov (518) 455-5431

Assemblymember Demond Meeks (Rochester) - meeksd@nyassembly.gov (518) 455-4618

Assemblymember Helene Weinstein (Brooklyn) - WeinstH@nyassembly.gov (518) 455-5462

Assemblymember John Zaccaro (Bronx) - zaccaroj@nyassembly.gov 518-455-5844

Assemblymember William Conrad (Buffalo) - conradw@nyassembly.gov (518) 455-4203

Assemblymember Erik Martin Dolan (Brooklyn) - DilanE@nyassembly.gov 518-455-5821

Senator Michelle Hinchey (Hudson Valley) - hinchey@nysenate.gov (518) 455-2051

Senator Brian Kavanagh (Manhattan) - kavanagh@nysenate.gov (518) 455-2625

Senator Monica Martinez (Long Island) - martinez@nysenate.gov 518-455-2765

Senator Shelley Mayer (Hudson Valley) - smayer@nysenate.gov (518) 455-2031

Senator Andrew Gounardes (Brooklyn) - gounardes@nysenate.gov (518) 455-3270

Senator Jose Serrano (Bronx) - serrano@nysenate.gov (518) 455-2795