Allows a terminally ill, competent adult suffering from an incurable and irreversible disease that will produce death within 6 months to obtain, upon written request, a prescription from a licensed physician for medication of a self administered oral lethal dose.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature believes that a terminally ill patient's decision-making over the time and means of death is a highly personal matter. A terminally ill patient's request for the assistance of a physician to accelerate death ought to be treated with dignity and respect. Therefore, the legislature finds it appropriate, compassionate, and humane for the State to authorize a physician to prescribe medication to empower a mentally competent and terminally ill adult patient, who has a full understanding of the patient's options and consequences, to exercise control over this intensely private decision. The purpose of this Act is to authorize physician-assisted suicide.

SECTION 2. Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, a terminally ill, competent adult suffering from an incurable and irreversible disease that will produce death within six months may obtain, upon written request, a prescription from a licensed physician for medication of a self administered oral lethal dose.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.