On June 9, the New York state senate with scant debate narrowly passed S. 138
which legalizes medically assisted suicide in a broad way. The state assembly passed
a similar measure recently, again narrowly, so now S. 138 goes to New York Governor
Hochul who can either veto or sign it.
This is in no ordinary time. Society is facing the specter of massive cuts to Medicare,
Medicaid and even to such a simple and effective program like Meals on Wheels which
enables so many people who cannot cook for themselves to receive proper nutrition.
Funding for healthcare research is being cut. Some immigrants long in the country are
afraid to seek needed care because they fear their legal status being questioned.
It is inexplicable that at a time like this that the New York legislature would give any
consideration to legalizing assisted suicide, regardless of the sugar-coated name
proponents give the practice. Whether intended by the legislature or not, S. 138 fits into
the social Darwinist agenda being pursued by some quarters on the federal level.
The title of the New York Times article describing the passage of S. 138 and giving
short shrift to both the disability rights and the progressive opposition is “New York
moves to allow Terminally Ill People to die on their own terms.”
On their own terms? This totally ignores the social and political context that may cause a person to be desperate enough to request a lethal prescription. A person is not dying on their own terms if they cannot access the in-home aide support, they need to live independently. A person is not dying on their own terms if they are motivated by fear of going into a nursing home (where in New York so many people suffered and died of covid). A person is not dying on their own terms if they are powerless to stop the financial drain
on their family.
It is not about autonomy and choice when doctors get to decide which ill and disabled
people fall within the rubric of being terminally ill and so can be given lethal drugs upon
request rather than counselling and suicide prevention services. It is about bias. It is
about medical power abetted by an increasingly uncaring community.
As the New York based the Center for Disability Rights, has written “In a for-profit health
care system, assisted suicide is a lethal way to control costs.” It should be noted that S. 138 is an expanded version of the traditional assisted suicide bill. It has no waiting period. Do the drafters believe that the profound and irreversible decision to end life should be made in the moment? It also has no residency requirement. A lethal prescription can be prescribed to any ostensibly eligible person who comes into the state. If S. 138 becomes law, it could be amended in the future to be even more encompassing.
S. 138 threatens people who are already under threat. It threatens all of us. Governor
Hochul must rise to the occasion and act courageously. She must veto it.