Bill S.1486 194th (Current)

This bill allows someone who is terminally ill to choose a dignified, peaceful death by requesting medication from a doctor that may be self-administered at a time of their own choosing, should suffering become unbearable. This bill safeguards patients and medical professionals, affords dying people autonomy and compassion during the most difficult time, and protects potentially vulnerable people from coercion. To be found eligible for medical aid in dying, a person must be an adult resident of Massachusetts, be terminally ill with a prognosis of 6 months or less to live, be capable of making an informed decision, be acting voluntarily, and be able to self-administer the medication. The bill lays out a 10-step process which a person must follow to obtain medical aid in dying medication. The process includes requirements that the patient must request the medication from their physician at least two times, the patient must be evaluated for eligibility by two separate physicians, the patient must have a consultation with and be evaluated by a mental health provider, the provider must inform the patient on multiple occasions of their right to rescind their request, the provider must recommend that a patient inform their family members of their intent, and additional requirements to protect potentially vulnerable people. The bill also safeguards medical professionals. The bill states that health care providers and health care entities have the right to not practice medical aid in dying. Providers cannot be subject to punishments or penalties for either participating or not participating in providing medical aid in dying medication, so long as the provider follows applicable laws and does not purposefully alter or forge a request for medical aid in dying medication or tamper with a recission of a request for medical aid in dying medication. The bill also includes reporting requirements for physicians of all requests and prescriptions filled for medical aid in dying, requiring that deidentified data is provided annually to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.