See How Your Politicians Voted
Title: Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs
Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that authorizes a physician to prescribe aid-in-dying drugs to a terminally ill individual.
Highlights:
- Authorizes an individual to request a prescription for an “aid-in-dying drug” if he or she meets certain conditions including, but not limited to, the following conditions (Sec. 1):
- The individual is a resident of California and at least 18 years old;
- The individual’s attending physician diagnoses the individual with a “terminal disease;”
- The individual voluntarily expresses the wish to receive the drug; and
- The individual has the physical and mental ability to self-administer the drug.
- Defines “aid-in-dying drug” as a drug prescribed by a physician for an individual, which he or she self-administers to bring about his or her death due to a terminal disease (Sec. 1).
- Defines “terminal disease” as an incurable and irreversible disease that has been medically confirmed and will result in death within 6 months (Sec. 1).
- Prohibits anyone other than the diagnosed individual from making a request for aid-in-dying drugs (Sec. 1).
- Requires an individual requesting aid-in-dying drugs to submit to a physician 2 oral requests no more than 15 days apart and a written request signed in the presence of 2 witnesses (Sec. 1).
- Requires the individual’s physician and a consulting physician to perform certain actions before prescribing an aid-in-dying drug, including, but not limited to, the following actions (Sec. 1):
- The physician examines the individual and his or her relevant medical records;
- The physician confirms, in writing, the diagnosis and prognosis; and
- The physician refers the individual to a mental health assessment, if there are indications of a mental disorder.
- Classifies the act of “knowingly coercing” an individual to request an aid-in-dying drug or to destroy a withdrawal of a request as a felony (Sec. 1).