HB 1649

Abstract

Health care; decision making; end of life; penalties.Allows an adult diagnosed with a terminal condition to request and an attendinghealth care provider to prescribe a self-administered controlled substance forthe purpose of ending the patient's life in a humane and dignified manner. Thebill requires that a patient's request for a self-administered controlledsubstance to end his life must be given orally on two occasions and in writing,signed by the patient and one witness, and that the patient be given an expressopportunity to rescind his request at any time. The bill makes it a Class 2felony (i) to willfully and deliberately alter, forge, conceal, or destroy apatient's request, or rescission of request, for a self-administered controlledsubstance to end his life with the intent and effect of causing the patient'sdeath; (ii) to coerce, intimidate, or exert undue influence on a patient torequest a self-administered controlled substance for the purpose of ending hislife or to destroy the patient's rescission of such request with the intent andeffect of causing the patient's death; or (iii) to coerce, intimidate, or exertundue influence on a patient to forgo a self-administered controlled substancefor the purpose of ending the patient's life. The bill also grants immunityfrom civil or criminal liability and professional disciplinary action to anyperson who complies with the provisions of the bill and allows health careproviders to refuse to participate in the provision of a self-administeredcontrolled substance to a patient for the purpose of ending the patient's life.