Federal Court Dismisses Challenge to New York's 14th Medical Aid-in-Dying Law
Updated
Updated · STAT · Aug 3
Federal Court Dismisses Challenge to New York's 14th Medical Aid-in-Dying Law
3 articles · Updated · STAT · Aug 3
Summary
Thursday's ruling cleared New York's medical aid-in-dying law to take effect Wednesday, allowing terminally ill adults to obtain prescriptions for life-ending medication they can self-administer.
U.S. District Judge Orelia Eleta Merchant dismissed the case because the advocates who sued over disability-coercion concerns lacked standing to challenge the law.
New York becomes the 14th U.S. state with a medical aid-in-dying law, expanding access despite continuing opposition from some physicians and disability advocates.
The debate is likely to continue beyond the court fight: the American Medical Association opposes such laws, while its ethics code says physicians who participate legally and thoughtfully are not in violation.