Our Mission

To improve awareness and options for end of life care for New Yorkers and the people who assist them through support, education, outreach and advocacy.

Board members tabling event

Fulfilling Our Mission

End of Life Choices New York works to fulfill this mission by expanding choice at the end of life, respecting every individual’s wishes, and striving for the best possible quality of life and a peaceful death.

  • We believe that no dying person should have to endure more suffering than he or she is willing to bear. Everyone should have the right to decide and control the way they die, consistent with their values and beliefs.
  • End of Life Choices New York has been at the forefront of these issues in New York, with an experienced staff and board working to achieve better care and more choices for the dying.

There are several aspects to our mission.

01

Informing the Public

We engage in a variety of educational and outreach efforts to inform the public about end of life options.

02

Implementing Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) in New York

We advocated successfully for legalizing Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) in New York. This new law allows a mentally competent, terminally ill patient to have the right to obtain prescription medication that he or she can ingest to achieve a peaceful death.

03

Successfully initiating laws in New York to improve end of life care

This included the Palliative Care Information Act, which gave terminally ill patients the right to receive information and counseling about their palliative care and end of life options, including hospice. Our efforts resulted in the passage of a bill that requires continuing education for health care providers.

04

Continually advocating for new legislation

We have also authored proposed legislation to protect physicians who treat patients within the standard of care.

05

Providing information and support on a range of end of life issues

We support individuals and families facing the end of life by helping them to prepare their advance directives, locate pain specialists, hospice programs, social service agencies and disease-specific support groups. We also help them to connect to clinicians who practice aid in dying care.

06

Offering free end of life support services

We respond to inquiries from anyone who contacts us with questions about their end of life concerns. There is no charge for this service.

Support End of Life Choices New York with a Gift

A gift to End of Life Choices New York supports our mission to expand choice at the end of life, respecting every individual’s wishes, and striving for the best quality of life and a peaceful death.

Make a DonationPlanned Giving