Stories that Change Our Hearts and Minds

Mandi Zucker

May 28, 2025

Live How You Like, Leave How You Like

An article in the Times Union was published last week about a NY family who travelled to Oregon to access medical aid in dying. And while it’s great news that Oregon does not have a residency requirement, you can only imagine the pains this family had to take to get to Oregon within the last six months of her life, just so she can die in an unfamiliar setting away from family and friends. I was struck by this article’s mention that Jeri was an interior designer, so I can imagine her home and its surroundings were well though out and had all of her favorite things – colors, textures, smells, pictures, etc.

It makes me sad to think that Jeri was not able to be surrounded by the comforts of her own home in her most vulnerable moments, and then her family was left after her death in an unfamiliar setting to grieve. They then had to make their way back to NY to walk in to the home that Jeri loved. I think about the first time they stepped foot back in the house and what could have been going through their minds about not being able to be there in the moments when their own comfortable home would have brought so much comfort to their wife/mom. While we are so grateful that Jon and his family had the resources to be able to utilize this option to travel to Oregon, their story highlights the need for all terminally-ill people to have access to medical aid in dying in their own state.

Stories like this move the hearts and minds of our elected representatives and we need their support right now. No other families should have to even contemplate moving across the country so they can die in peace.

Mandi Zucker, LSW
Executive Director

Recent Events & Updates

Join us in June for our Annual Meeting

Mark your calendars for June 5th for our in-person Annual Meeting. We will be recapping our successes over the past year, sharing our bold strategic plan for the future and filling you in on ways you can be part of this mission. We will also be unveiling a few surprises and I can’t wait to share them with you! We will be meeting at Broadway Party Rentals, 137 Grand Street, NYC (thank you to board member Kristen Karlberg for the use of the space!). Register for the event here.

Latest Polling on Medical Aid in Dying

End of Life Choices New York recently commissioned The Parkside Group to complete a statewide poll about New Yorker’s views on medical aid in dying. The results of this poll were overwhelmingly positive, with 65% of New Yorkers supportive of medical aid in dying. Across all demographics, there was consistent support including all political parties, religions, races, ages, and geographic locations. Review the polling here.

Barbara Swartz Lecture Recorded

Thank you to everyone who attended our annual Barbara Swartz Lecture on Medical Aid in Dying. We had a great discussion with Thaddeus Pope, JD, PhD, HEC-C who discussed the legal and ethical issues related to this practice. Carol Abolafia also shared her personal story when her mom utilized medical aid in dying in NJ. We recorded the lecture and have now made it available to you if you’d like to watch.

Ask Us Anything

Q: What are some of the major differences in the NY medical aid in dying bill (S.138) than in other states that have passed the bill?

A: For the most part, the laws in each state are fairly similar. However, in NY there is no residency requirement built in to the law, which is different than in most other states. In addition, the NY law requires one written and one oral request for the option, rather than an often lengthy waiting period between two requests.

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

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