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Assisted suicide bill moving forward in Albany

Posted at 9:29 PM, May 23, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-24 11:04:55-04

It's a bill aimed at providing terminally ill patients with more end of life choices. The "Medical Aid in Dying Act" was approved by the the New York State Assembly Health Committee on Monday. The act has been reported to the Codes Committee.

The Medical Aid in Dying Act would allow terminally ill, mentally competent, adult patients to self-administer prescribed medicines if their suffering becomes unbearable. "It provides a compassionate way for dying patients to achieve a peaceful death of their choosing," said David C. Leven, Executive Director of End of Life Choices New York.

"The bill has numerous safeguards and protections for what has proven to be a rarely used but safe practice in several other states," Leven continued.

The NYS Assembly Health Committee says it recognizes that the Medical Aid in Dying Act is not likely to be approved by the State Legislature this year but that the group will continue to push for it's passage.