Medical Aid in Dying in now Effective in NY

Live How You Like, Leave How You Like

Today is the day. After years of advocacy, hope, heartbreak, determination, and perseverance, medical aid in dying is now legal and available to eligible New Yorkers. August 5, 2026, is a day we have dreamed about for a very long time.

And yet, today brings complicated emotions. There is joy. There is relief. There is profound gratitude. And there is grief. Because we know that not everyone who needed this law lived long enough to see it become a reality. Today, we think of the New Yorkers who were dying while we fought for this legislation. We think of the people who wanted the option to have more control over the end of their lives but never had that choice. We think of the families who watched their loved ones suffer, hoping and waiting for change that came too late for them. We carry them with us. Their stories are woven into this moment. Their courage and their suffering fueled our determination. Today, as we celebrate this historic milestone, we hold them—and all those who died waiting—in our hearts.

We are here because so many people refused to give up. We are especially grateful to David Leven, Executive Director from 2002-2016 and since then Executive Director Emeritus and Senior Consultant, whose leadership, vision, and extraordinary commitment to end-of-life choice helped bring us to this day. We are grateful to our incredible Implementation Team, made up of our staff as well as the Academy of Aid-in-Dying Medicine, doctors, advocates, lawyers, and so many others who have generously shared their knowledge, expertise, and time. People from all over the state, but also organizations like ours from around the country who provided us with the guidance we needed, whenever we needed it. We thank all of the lawmakers, especially Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and former Senator and current Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who championed this legislation. Together, all of us have worked tirelessly to prepare for this moment and to help ensure that this law is implemented thoughtfully, responsibly, and compassionately. And we are deeply grateful to the board and staff of End of Life Choices New York, both past and present. Their unwavering belief in this mission has carried us through the long road to today.

To every advocate who made a phone call.
To every person who wrote a letter.
To every healthcare professional who listened.
To every family who shared their story.
To every volunteer who gave their time.
To every donor who believed in this work and helped make it possible.
Today belongs to all of you.

The law has passed. But a law only becomes meaningful when people know about it—and when healthcare professionals are prepared to help their patients understand their options. And this brings me to my request on this historic day:

Please call or email your doctor. Tell them that medical aid in dying is now legal in New York. Ask them if they would like to learn more about how they can support patients who may wish to consider this option.

Your doctor may not know yet. Your doctor’s colleagues may not know yet. The person sitting in a doctor’s office next week, facing a terminal illness, may not know yet. You can help change that.

And today, we have one more reason to celebrate: Together, we reached our campaign goal of $80,526! And because we reached that goal, you unlocked an additional $25,000 bonus gift from an incredibly generous supporter.

We are overwhelmed with gratitude. Your generosity is helping us move from advocacy to action—to educate, to support, to answer questions, and to make sure that no one who is eligible for medical aid in dying has to navigate this process alone.

Today, we take a breath. And we look forward to the lives that will be changed because this choice now exists.

August 5, 2026, is not the end of our journey. It is the beginning of a new chapter.
A chapter in which eligible New Yorkers facing the end of life can have more information, more options, and—when they choose it—the ability to have greater control over their final days. We are humbled to have been part of the journey that brought us here. We are honored to continue the work. And today, with full hearts, the choice is finally here.

Sincerely,
Mandi Zucker, LSW, CT
Executive Director, End of Life Choices New York

Ask Us Anything

Q: How much will it cost to use medical aid in dying?

A: Just like any other medical procedure, medical aid in dying will have varying costs depending on insurance, the cost of medications, and whether or not you choose to use a doctor that can work with insurance or not. Specific doctor visits for medical aid in dying are not covered by most insurance companies, and the medications (which can cost up to $1500) are also not typically covered. If you are struggling to pay for this process, please reach out to us and we can help look into financial assistance.

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