Today is a dark day in New York State, as the Senate voted, 35 to 27, to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act (S.138) to legalize physician-assisted suicide. The Assembly passed the same bill in April; it now goes to Governor Kathy Hochul for signature.
The bill would allow physicians, at the request of patients, to write prescriptions for lethal drugs for patients who are believed by two physicians as having less than six months left to live.
As an Orthodox Jewish organization, Agudath Israel of America is guided by the timeless principle that life is sacred. Our tradition teaches that every human being is created in the image of G-d, and that every moment of life has infinite value. Society legalizing coordinated killing, even in the difficult situation where the victim is in pain, erodes that value, and tells the vulnerable among us that their lives don’t matter. The Medical Aid in Dying Act sends precisely such a dangerous and destructive message.
Agudath Israel has long advocated on behalf of terminally ill patients, particularly through its Chayim Aruchim division. Through this firsthand experience, Agudath Israel has witnessed our healthcare system marginalize the care of the elderly and patients viewed as “a burden.” It has seen many patients in which a doctor issued a grim diagnosis live rich, fulfilling lives well after their doctors’ darkest predictions were pronounced. What is more, such factors as the prevalence of depression among patients seeking to end their lives, the potential for medical misdiagnoses, the influence of family members, potential inheritors, and other financial pressures can lead patients to make irreversible decisions to end their lives prematurely.
Rabbi David Zwiebel, Agudath Israel’s executive vice president, bemoaned the Senate’s vote. “Since time immemorial, civilized societies have drawn a hard line on the issue of suicide. Taking one’s own life is a tragedy of untold proportion. Allowing physicians – whose calling is to heal – to serve as active accomplices in bringing about this tragedy of taking human life is a profound moral and practical misstep.”
“For the last decade, Agudath Israel has been an important part of a coalition of religious and disability rights groups opposing this legislation,” added Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Agudath Israel’s Director of New York Government Relations. “We have met dozens of legislators on this issue, testified publicly and sent out numerous action alerts. We are deeply disappointed at today’s vote and strongly urge Governor Hochul to veto this bill.”
Senator Bill Weber, a vocal opponent of the legislation, slammed the bill proposed by Albany Democrats. “This is a dangerous step for New York,” he said. “Instead of investing in quality palliative care and support systems for those facing terminal illness, this bill paves the way for state-sanctioned suicide. I urge Governor Hochul to stand against this misguided policy and veto the legislation.”