HB1095:

Health care; decision making, end of life, penalties.

Bill Summary:

Health care; decision making;
end of life; penalties. Allows an adult
diagnosed with a terminal condition to request and an attending health care
provider to prescribe a self-administered controlled
substance for the purpose of ending the patient's
life in a humane and dignified manner. The bill requires that a patient's
request for a self-administered controlled substance
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 express opportunity to rescind
his request at any time. The bill makes it a Class 2
felony (i) to willfully and deliberately alter, forge, conceal, or destroy a
patient's request, or rescission of request, for a
self-administered controlled substance to end his life with the intent
and effect of causing the patient's death; (ii) to
coerce, intimidate, or exert undue influence on a patient to request a self-administered controlled substance for the purpose
of ending his life or to destroy the patient's rescission of such request with
the intent and effect of causing the patient's death;
or (iii) to coerce, intimidate, or exert undue influence on a patient to forgo a self-administered controlled substance for the purpose of ending the patient's life. The bill also grants immunity from
civil or criminal liability and professional disciplinary action to any person
who complies with the provisions of the bill and allows health care providers
to refuse to participate in the provision of a
self-administered controlled substance to a patient for the purpose of
ending the patient's life.