Events

Event Description

The Medical Aid in Dying Act: Insights from the NYSBA Task Force Process

RSVP for lunch

Following the landmark signing of the Medical Aid in Dying Act into law by Governor Hochul on February 6, 2026, this presentation will explore the critical work of the New York State Bar Association's Task Force that helped shape its legal and ethical framework. Established in 2023 to provide a rigorous, multi-disciplinary review of end-of-life care, the Task Force’s recommendations were instrumental in developing the "guardrails" and implementation strategies now taking effect across the state. This session will examine how these legislative processes balance patient autonomy with professional ethics and the practicalities of healthcare delivery in New York.

Edward McArdle, JD, is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Bioethics and Humanities at SUNY Upstate Medical University, where he serves as an ethics consultant and teaches medical ethics. A member of the NYSBA Task Force on Medical Aid in Dying, he brings extensive experience from his former role as an Assistant Attorney General representing University Hospital in complex patient treatment and end-of-life disputes.