Staten Islander with ALS among those condemning N.Y. lawmakers for not passing Medical Aid in Dying Act: ‘I really needed it’
Originally published in
Staten Island Advance
on
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — It’s been just over three weeks since the New York state Legislature again failed to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act, but the sting is still fresh for advocates of the proposed legislation.
With the 2023-24 New York legislative session now complete, lawmakers will have to wait until January 2025 to reintroduce the proposed bill that counts Staten Island state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton as its prime co-sponsor.
Knowing Moffett won’t be able to use medical aid in dying in his home state has deeply distressed Scarcella-Spanton.
“It’s incredibly disappointing every year that this doesn’t get done,” said the Staten Island senator. “My heart breaks because a lot of the advocates are people who are actively suffering from terminal illnesses, and we’re taking this choice away from them.”
She pointed to surrounding states, like New Jersey, which implemented its Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act in 2019, and noted New York was doing a disservice to its residents.
She wasn’t surprised by Moffett’s potential last push for relocation, and understood he likely won’t be the only New Yorker to do so.
“We’re forcing people who really want this option to move from the place they’ve called home their whole life. It’s unfair.”
