Last year, in this JAMA article, I evaluated the accessibility of MAID in statutes and bills from more than 20 U.S. jurisdictions. I evaluated them along four dimensions: (1) types of clinicians authorized, (2) length of waiting period, (3) state residency requirements, and (4) transparency of conscience based refusals.   Using these criteria, I recently awarded Delaware's Ron Silverio/Heather Block End of Life Options Law a B grade. While not yet finally approved, I now award New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act a B- grade. Interestingly, its strengths and weaknesses are the opposite of Delaware's.     Clinicians: New York earns an D on this measure. Unlike most West Coast MAID states that permit APRNs or PAs, New York permits only physicians to participate with providing MAID.  Residency: New York earns an A on this measure. Like Oregon and Vermont, New York does not require state residency. But this requirement may be short lived in other states. Its constitutionality is being evaluated right next door in New Jersey by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. And an identical case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. Waiting Period: New York earns an A on this measure. Like most West Coast MAID states, New York eschews the traditional 15-day waiting period between separate requests for MAID. Significant data shows that many patient cannot wait that long. Transparency: New York earns a D on this measure. Unlike California, Colorado, and Washington, New York does not require opting out facilities to provide notice to the public. 

Join me in this HSSD webinar on December 8, 2024, when I discuss my three recent articles (and here) on using MAID to avoid late-stage dementia. Many Americans want to avoid living into late-stage dementia. Their available end-of-life options include:…