New York, New York, February 8, 2024 – 

New Yorkers represent the state motto of Excelsior, or “ever upward” – namely, a desire to improve, grow, and evolve. Our shared mortality should be no exception. 

A new poll released by YouGov illustrates that nearly three-quarters of New York residents support Medical Aid in Dying (“MAiD”). This favorable report follows nine years of legislative effort in New York, and three decades of advocacy across the nation. 

The YouGov poll results indicate 72% support for Medical Aid in Dying, which would allow New York’s 19.5 million population to stay close to home, instead of prompting eligible New Yorkers to leave their home state in order to access this option in neighboring New Jersey and Vermont. 

New York (A995a/S2445) is currently one of eighteen states – including Minnesota, Michigan, and Virginia – with pending 2024 legislation. “The momentum we are seeing for aid in dying legislation in our country is notable and exciting,” stated Mark Barger Elliott, Executive Director of the Completed Life Initiative. “What we are seeing is a potentially groundbreaking historic moment in favor of expanding a patient’s right to direct end-of-life care.”

Poll results in favor of MAiD are significant, especially those from people with disabilities (78%) and among Catholics (65%). “So many issues divide New Yorkers by partisanship, but that is not the case for the proposed law on medical aid in dying,” remarked  Alissa Stollwerk, Vice President at YouGov. “It is rare to see an issue that enjoys such majority support across partisanship and various demographic groups.”

The Completed Life Initiative is pleased to be a part of this important polling result, one that demonstrates a majority of New Yorkers strongly support Medical Aid in Dying. Alongside Death with Dignity, the Completed Life Initiative commissioned the poll conducted between January 18th and January 31st, 2024, available here. 

Legislative action on the New York Medical Aid in Dying bill awaits a recommendation from the Senate and Assembly Health Care Committees. For more information on how you can support this process, click here. 

For media inquiries, please contact Sarah Kiskadden-Bechtel, Director of Public Policy & Programming: [email protected].