06/23/2026
New York has recently passed the Medical Aid in Dying Act, often referred to as New York’s “Death with Dignity” law. The law was signed by Governor Hochul on February 6, 2026, and is scheduled to become effective on August 5, 2026.
This law will allow certain terminally ill adult New York residents, who have a prognosis of six months or less to live, to request medication that the patient may self-administer to hasten death.
It is important to understand that this law is very limited. It does not allow a health care agent, power of attorney, family member, or loved one to make this decision for another person. The patient must have capacity, must personally make the request, and must be able to self-administer the medication.
For estate planning purposes, this new law is another reminder of how important it is to have thoughtful advance directives in place, including a Health Care Proxy, Living Will, Power of Attorney, and Last Will and Testament. These documents allow you to clearly state your wishes and choose the people you trust to make decisions for you if you are no longer able to speak for yourself.
End-of-life planning is never easy to discuss, but it is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give your family.
If you have not reviewed your estate planning documents recently, now is a good time to do so.
