January 25, 2021: The 2021 campaign to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act in New York opened today with a virtual rally led by Compassion & Choices Senior New York Campaign Director Corinne Carey. The online Zoom event had more than 150 participants.
The first speaker was Kim Callinan, president of Compassion & Choices. Speaking next were the lead sponsors of the bill, Senator Diane Savino (D-Staten Island) and Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D-Westchester). In addition, a new Assemblymember, Phara Souffrant Forrest (D-Brooklyn) spoke.
Earlier in the day, Compassion & Choices announced the debut of a new 30-second television ad featuring two New Yorkers, Dr. Jeff Gardere and Jennifer Milich, a terminally ill Buffalo resident, urging the Legislature to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act.
The campaign will include online meetings of volunteer supporters with legislators throughout the Spring, and Death with Dignity–Albany members will be actively participating. Individual volunteers will also contact legislators by telephone, mail, and social media.
A fuller account of the campaign kickoff is available from Compassion & Choices, HERE.
Also, a recording of the event is available on Facebook, HERE (one hour).