Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote on a motion to adopt an "ought to pass as amended" report for a bill that authorizes doctors to prescribe lethal doses of medication to terminally ill patients.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a physician to prescribe a medication that the patient may self-administer for the purpose of hastening the patient’s death (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits physicians from withholding requested information from a terminally ill patient regarding all treatment options reasonably available (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits filing a lawsuit or taking professional disciplinary action against a physician solely because he or she prescribed medication to a terminally ill patient who subsequently self-administered it for the purpose of hastening their death (Sec. 4).

• Prohibits using an exchange of information between a patient and physician as the basis for any civil or criminal liability or professional disciplinary action (Sec. 3).

• Requires a patient to do the following in order to be prescribed medicine for the purpose of hastening their own death (Sec. 4):

• An initial oral request in the presence of a physician;

• A 2nd request at least 15 days after the initial request;

• Submit a written request at least 1 day after the 2nd request that is signed by the patient in the presence of 2 witnesses; and

• Sign a statement of written consent before obtaining the prescription from a pharmacist.

• Requires physicians to have documentation of all patient requests (Sec. 4).

• Requires physicians to inform the patient of the risks of lethal medicine and the range of treatment options available for them (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that individuals who are present when a patient self-administers a lethal dose of medicine will not be subject to civil or criminal liability (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes health care facilities to enact prohibitions against patients administering lethal doses of medication while in the health care facility (Sec. 7).

• Prohibits life insurance companies from denying benefits to beneficiaries of a patient who self-administers lethal medicine (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text