Statement on NYS Assembly Passage of State-Sanctioned Suicide Bill

Following is a statement by Dennis Poust, executive director of the NYS Catholic Conference following the state Assembly’s passage on April 29 of the state-sanctioned suicide bill known as the Medical Aid in Dying Act by a vote of 81-67:

“The Bishops of New York State are grateful to the entire Republican minority in the Assembly, as well as about 20 Democrats who took a principled vote against state-sanctioned suicide. The closeness of the vote indicates that many legislators are looking closely at the inevitable unintended consequences, including the possibility of coercion and pressure for people to end their lives. In a particular way, Assembly Democrats of color who spoke out against the bill during the vote understood the threat in their communities, which historically are medically underserved.

“We call on Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to reject this legislation and not force her members to take such a contentious vote that does not have the full support of her conference. We further call on the Governor to veto the bill should it come to her desk. The points highlighted in the Assembly debate clearly show that state-sanctioned suicide is a disaster-in-waiting for New York.”