Borrello votes NO, “missing basic safeguards”
From the Office of NYS Senator George Borrello
“This was a difficult vote, and I know the issue is personal for many. I’ve heard from constituents on both sides, and I appreciate everyone who took the time to share their thoughts.
However, after reviewing the bill and listening to the concerns raised by disability advocates, medical professionals — including the American Medical Association which remains opposed — and members of my community, I was compelled to vote ‘no.’ The legislation is missing basic safeguards. It has no waiting period, as most other states do. It doesn’t require a prior relationship between the patient and the doctor. It allows lethal medication to be prescribed through telehealth, with no in-person exam. There’s no process in place to track or secure the drugs once they’re dispensed. And there’s no requirement for a mental health evaluation to ensure the patient is of sound mind—just an optional assessment that can also be done remotely.
I’m especially concerned about how this could affect vulnerable New Yorkers; people with disabilities, the elderly, and those in rural or low-income areas with limited access to hospice or palliative care. We should be focused on making sure every New Yorker gets the best possible care and support at the end of life, not opening the door to a system that could be misused. That’s why I could not support this bill.”
