Patient Safety Group Encourages the Public to Prepare for Medical Aid in Dying Now Available in New York State
- Pulse CPSEA
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Contact: Ilene Corina, BCPA, President, Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education &
Advocacy
Phone: Cell 516-650-2421
Effective August 5, 2026, medical aid in dying is available to eligible terminally ill New
Yorkers who have been diagnosed with a life expectancy of six months or less.
The right for individuals with a terminal illness to choose medical aid in dying has been the subject of public debate for many years. With the law now in effect, New York joins a
growing number of states that provide eligible patients with this end-of-life option. The
legislation also includes numerous safeguards designed to protect vulnerable individuals
while preserving patient autonomy and informed decision-making.
Key safeguards include:
• A mandatory five-day waiting period between when a prescription is written and
when it may be filled.
• A requirement that the patient's oral request for medical aid in dying be recorded by
audio or video.
• A mandatory mental health evaluation conducted by a licensed psychologist or
psychiatrist for patients seeking medical aid in dying.
• Eligibility limited to New York State residents.
• A requirement that the patient's initial evaluation by the attending physician be
conducted in person.
• Enforcement provisions that define violations of the law as professional misconduct
under New York Education Law.
• A prohibition against anyone who may benefit financially from the patient's death
from serving as either a witness to the patient's oral request or as an interpreter.
Ilene Corina, Board Certified Patient Advocate and President of Pulse Center for Patient
Safety Education & Advocacy, emphasizes the importance of discussing end-of-life
preferences before a medical crisis occurs.
"Serious illness is an incredibly difficult time to begin these conversations," she says. "Medical aid in dying can now be included as part of advance care planning and advance directives, allowing patients to consider their options well before they are faced with making a final decision. Patients may ultimately choose a different path, but having the conversation in advance helps ensure their wishes are understood and respected."
"This is where an End-of-Life Doula can play a valuable role," explains Susan Capurso, End-
of-Life Doula and Board Member of Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy.
"An End-of-Life Doula provides holistic emotional, practical, and spiritual support to
individuals and their families as they navigate the end-of-life journey.
What about life insurance?
Tracy Plunkett, BCPA, of Care Navigation & Advocacy, LLC, encourages patients and their
families to include financial planning in these discussions. "As part of preparing for end-of-life care, patients should contact their health insurance provider to understand what
services and medications may be covered under their plan."
“One common misconception is that life insurance companies will not pay a claim
because medical aid in dying is considered suicide,” explains James Donnelly, founder of
Safe Haven Insurance.
“Under New York law, that is generally not the case. If a qualified patient chooses medical aid in dying in accordance with the law, that decision alone does not legally classify the death as suicide. As a result, life insurance companies generally cannot deny a claim based on a suicide exclusion”.
Together these professionals, members of Pulse Center for Patient Safety, Education &
Advocacy, encourage patients and families to engage in thoughtful advance care planning, understand the protections built into New York's medical aid in dying law, and seek guidance from qualified healthcare providers and patient advocates when considering end-of-life options.