Physician Assisted Suicide Law Proposed in Connecticut

AN ACT CONCERNING COMPASSIONATE AID IN DYING FOR TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) As used in this section and sections 2 to 18, inclusive, of this act:

(1) "Adult" means a person who is eighteen years of age or older;

(2) "Aid in dying" means the medical practice of a physician prescribing medication to a qualified patient who is terminally ill, which medication a qualified patient may self-administer to bring about his or her death;

(3) "Attending physician" means the physician who has primary responsibility for the medical care of the patient and treatment of the patient's terminal illness;

(4) "Competent" means, in the opinion of the patient's attending physician, consulting physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or a court, that the patient has the capacity to understand and acknowledge the nature and consequences of health care decisions, including the benefits and disadvantages of treatment, to make an informed decision and to communicate such decision to a health care provider, including communicating through a person familiar with the patient's manner of communicating;

(5) "Consulting physician" means a physician who is qualified by specialty or experience to make a professional diagnosis and prognosis regarding the patient's terminal illness;

(6) "Counseling" means one or more consultations as necessary between a psychiatrist or a psychologist and a patient for the purpose of determining that the patient is competent and not suffering from depression or any other psychiatric or psychological disorder that causes impaired judgment;

(7) "Health care provider" means a person licensed, certified or otherwise authorized or permitted by law to administer health care or dispense medication in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession, including, but not limited to, a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or pharmacist;

(8) "Health care facility" means a hospital, residential care home, nursing home or rest home, as such terms are defined in section 19a-490 of the general statutes;

(9) "Informed decision" means a decision by a qualified patient to request and obtain a prescription for medication that the qualified patient may self-administer for aid in dying, that is based on an understanding and acknowledgment of the relevant facts and after being fully informed by the attending physician of: (A) The patient's medical diagnosis and prognosis; (B) the potential risks associated with self-administering the medication to be prescribed; (C) the probable result of taking the medication to be prescribed; and (D) the feasible alternatives and health care treatment options, including, but not limited to, palliative care;

(10) "Medically confirmed" means the medical opinion of the attending physician has been confirmed by a consulting physician who has examined the patient and the patient's relevant medical records;

(11) "Palliative care" means health care centered on a terminally ill patient and such patient's family that (A) optimizes the patient's quality of life by anticipating, preventing and treating the patient's suffering throughout the continuum of the patient's terminal illness, (B) addresses the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the patient, (C) facilitates patient autonomy, the patient's access to information and patient choice, and (D) includes, but is not limited to, discussions between the patient and a health care provider concerning the patient's goals for treatment and appropriate treatment options available to the patient, including hospice care and comprehensive pain and symptom management;

(12) "Patient" means a person who is under the care of a physician;

(13) "Pharmacist" means a person licensed pursuant to chapter 400j of the general statutes;

(14) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery pursuant to chapter 370 of the general statutes;

(15) "Psychiatrist" means a psychiatrist licensed pursuant to chapter 370 of the general statutes;

(16) "Psychologist" means a psychologist licensed pursuant to chapter 383 of the general statutes;

(17) "Qualified patient" means a competent adult who is a resident of this state, has a terminal illness and has satisfied the requirements of this section and sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act, in order to obtain aid in dying;

(18) "Self-administer" means a qualified patient's act of ingesting medication; and

(19) "Terminal illness" means the final stage of an incurable and irreversible medical condition that an attending physician anticipates, within reasonable medical judgment, will produce a patient's death within six months.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) A person who (1) is an adult, (2) is competent, (3) is a resident of this state, (4) has been determined by such person's attending physician to have a terminal illness, and (5) has voluntarily expressed his or her wish to receive aid in dying, may request aid in dying by making two written requests pursuant to sections 3 and 4 of this act.

(b) A person is not a qualified patient under sections 1 to 18, inclusive, of this act, solely because of age, disability or any specific illness.

(c) No person, including, but not limited to, an agent under a living will, an attorney-in-fact under a durable power of attorney, a guardian, or a conservator, may act on behalf of a patient for purposes of sections 1 to 18, inclusive, of this act.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) A patient wishing to receive aid in dying shall submit two written requests to such patient's attending physician in substantially the form set forth in section 4 of this act. A valid written request for aid in dying under sections 1 to 18, inclusive, of this act, shall be signed and dated by the patient. Each request shall be witnessed by at least two persons who, in the presence of the patient, attest that to the best of their knowledge and belief the patient is (1) of sound mind, and (2) acting voluntarily and not being coerced to sign the request. The patient's second written request for aid in dying shall be submitted not earlier than fifteen days after the patient submits the first request.

(b) At least one of the witnesses described in subsection (a) of this section shall be a person who is not: (1) A relative of the patient by blood, marriage or adoption; (2) at the time the request is signed, entitled to any portion of the estate of the patient upon the patient's death, under any will or by operation of law; or (3) an owner, operator or employee of a health care facility where the patient is receiving medical treatment or is a resident.

(c) The patient's attending physician at the time the request is signed shall not be a witness.

(d) If the patient is a resident of a residential care home, nursing home or rest home, as such terms are defined in section 19a-490 of the general statutes, at the time the written request is made, one of the witnesses shall be a person designated by such home.

Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) A request for aid in dying as authorized by sections 1 to 18, inclusive, of this act, shall be in substantially the following form:

REQUEST FOR MEDICATION TO AID IN DYING

I, .…, am an adult of sound mind.

I am a resident of the State of Connecticut.

I am suffering from …., which my attending physician has determined is an incurable and irreversible medical condition that will, within reasonable medical judgment, result in death within six months. This diagnosis of a terminal illness has been confirmed by another physician.

I have been fully informed of my diagnosis, prognosis, the nature of medication to be prescribed to aid me in dying, the potential associated risks, the expected result, feasible alternatives and additional health care treatment options, including palliative care.

I request that my attending physician prescribe medication that I may self-administer for aid in dying. I authorize my attending physician to contact a pharmacist to fill the prescription for such medication, upon my request.

INITIAL ONE:

…. I have informed my family of my decision and taken their opinions into consideration.

…. I have decided not to inform my family of my decision.

…. I have no family to inform of my decision.

I understand that I have the right to rescind this request at any time.

I understand the full import of this request and I expect to die if and when I take the medication to be prescribed. I further understand that although most deaths occur within three hours, my death may take longer and my attending physician has counseled me about this possibility.

I make this request voluntarily and without reservation, and I accept full responsibility for my decision to request aid in dying.

Signed: ….

Dated: ….

DECLARATION OF WITNESSES

By initialing and signing below on the date the person named above signs, I declare that the person making and signing the above request:

Witness 1 …. Witness 2 ….

Initials …. Initials ….

…. 1. Is personally known to me or has provided proof of identity;

…. 2. Signed this request in my presence on the date of the person's signature;

…. 3. Appears to be of sound mind and not under duress, fraud or undue influence; and

…. 4. Is not a patient for whom I am the attending physician.

Printed Name of Witness 1 ….

Signature of Witness 1 …. Date ….

Printed Name of Witness 2 ….

Signature of Witness 2 …. Date ….

Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) A qualified patient may rescind his or her request for aid in dying at any time and in any manner without regard to his or her mental state.

(b) An attending physician shall offer a qualified patient an opportunity to rescind his or her request for aid in dying at the time such patient submits a second written request for aid in dying to the attending physician.

(c) No prescription for medication for aid in dying shall be written without the qualified patient's attending physician first offering the qualified patient a second opportunity to rescind his or her request for aid in dying.

Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) When an attending physician is presented with a patient's first written request for aid in dying made pursuant to sections 2 to 4, inclusive, of this act, the attending physician shall:

(1) Make a determination that the patient (A) is an adult, (B) has a terminal illness, (C) is competent, and (D) has voluntarily requested aid in dying;

(2) Require the patient to demonstrate residency in this state by presenting: (A) A Connecticut driver's license; (B) a valid voter registration record authorizing the patient to vote in this state; (C) evidence that the patient owns or leases property in this state; or (D) any other government-issued document that the attending physician reasonably believes demonstrates that the patient is a current resident of this state;

(3) Ensure that the patient is making an informed decision by informing the patient of: (A) The patient's medical diagnosis; (B) the patient's prognosis; (C) the potential risks associated with self-administering the medication to be prescribed for aid in dying; (D) the probable result of self-administering the medication to be prescribed for aid in dying; and (E) the feasible alternatives and health care treatment options including, but not limited to, palliative care;

(4) Refer the patient to a consulting physician for medical confirmation of the attending physician's diagnosis of the patient's terminal illness, the patient's prognosis and for a determination that the patient is competent and acting voluntarily in requesting aid in dying.

Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) In order for a patient to be found to be a qualified patient for the purposes of sections 1 to 18, inclusive, of this act, a consulting physician shall: (1) Examine the patient and the patient's relevant medical records; (2) confirm, in writing, the attending physician's diagnosis that the patient has a terminal illness; (3) verify that the patient is competent, is acting voluntarily and has made an informed decision to request aid in dying; and (4) refer the patient for counseling, if required in accordance with section 8 of this act.

Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) If, in the medical opinion of the attending physician or the consulting physician, a patient may be suffering from a psychiatric or psychological condition or depression that is causing impaired judgment, either the attending or consulting physician shall refer the patient for counseling to determine whether the patient is competent to request aid in dying.

(b) An attending physician shall not provide the patient aid in dying until the person providing such counseling determines that the patient is not suffering a psychiatric or psychological condition or depression that is causing impaired judgment.

Sec. 9. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) After an attending physician and a consulting physician determine that a patient is a qualified patient, in accordance with sections 6 to 8, inclusive, of this act and after such qualified patient submits a second request for aid in dying in accordance with section 3 of this act, the attending physician shall:

(1) Recommend to the qualified patient that he or she notify next of kin of the qualified patient's request for aid in dying and inform the qualified patient that a failure to do so shall not be a basis for the denial of such request;

(2) Counsel the qualified patient concerning the importance of: (A) Having another person present when the qualified patient self-administers the medication prescribed for aid in dying; and (B) not taking the medication in a public place;

(3) Inform the qualified patient that the qualified patient may rescind his or her request for aid in dying at any time and in any manner;

(4) Verify, immediately before writing the prescription for medication for aid in dying, that the qualified patient is making an informed decision;

(5) Fulfill the medical record documentation requirements set forth in section 10 of this act; and

(6) (A) Dispense such medications, including ancillary medications intended to facilitate the desired effect to minimize the qualified patient's discomfort, if the attending physician is authorized to dispense such medication, to the qualified patient; or (B) upon the qualified patient's request and with the qualified patient's written consent (i) contact a pharmacist and inform the pharmacist of the prescription, and (ii) deliver the written prescription personally, by mail, by facsimile or by another electronic method that is permitted by the pharmacy to the pharmacist, who shall dispense such medications directly to the qualified patient, the attending physician or an expressly-identified agent of the qualified patient.

(b) The attending physician may sign the qualified patient's death certificate that shall list the underlying terminal illness as the cause of death.

Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) With respect to a request by a qualified patient for aid in dying, the attending physician shall ensure that the following items are documented or filed in the qualified patient's medical record:

(1) The basis for determining that the qualified patient requesting aid in dying is an adult and is a resident of the state;

(2) All oral requests by a qualified patient for medication for aid in dying;

(3) All written requests by a qualified patient for medication for aid in dying;

(4) The attending physician's diagnosis of the qualified patient's terminal illness and prognosis, and a determination that the qualified patient is competent, is acting voluntarily and has made an informed decision to request aid in dying;

(5) The consulting physician's confirmation of the qualified patient's diagnosis and prognosis, confirmation that the qualified patient is competent, is acting voluntarily and has made an informed decision to request aid in dying;

(6) A report of the outcome and determinations made during counseling, if counseling was recommended and provided in accordance with section 8 of this act;

(7) Documentation of the attending physician's offer to the qualified patient to rescind his or her request for aid in dying at the time the attending physician writes the qualified patient a prescription for medication for aid in dying; and

(8) A statement by the attending physician indicating that all requirements under this section and sections 1 to 9, inclusive, of this act, have been met and indicating the steps taken to carry out the qualified patient's request for aid in dying, including the medication prescribed.

Sec. 11. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) Records or information collected or maintained pursuant to sections 1 to 18, inclusive, of this act shall not be subject to subpoena or discovery or introduced into evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding except to resolve matters concerning compliance with the provisions of sections 1 to 18, inclusive, of this act, or as otherwise specifically provided by law.

Sec. 12. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) Any person in possession of medication prescribed for aid in dying that has not been self-administered shall dispose of such medication in accordance with section 21a-252 of the general statutes.

Sec. 13. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) Any provision in a contract, will, insurance policy, annuity or other agreement, whether written or oral, that is entered into on or after October 1, 2014, that would affect whether a person may make or rescind a request for aid in dying is not valid.

(b) Any obligation owing under any currently existing contract shall not be conditioned or affected by the making or rescinding of a request for aid in dying.

(c) On and after the effective date of this section, the sale, procurement or issuance of any life, health or accident insurance or annuity policy or the rate charged for any such policy shall not be conditioned upon or affected by the making or rescinding of a request for aid in dying.

(d) A qualified patient's act of requesting aid in dying or self-administering medication prescribed for aid in dying shall not: (1) Affect a life, health or accident insurance or annuity policy, or benefits payable under such policy; (2) be grounds for eviction from a person's place of residence or a basis for discrimination in the terms, conditions or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith; (3) provide the sole basis for the appointment of a conservator or guardian; or (4) constitute suicide for any purpose.

Sec. 14. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) As used in this section, "participate in the provision of medication" means to perform the duties of an attending physician or consulting physician, a psychiatrist, psychologist or pharmacist in accordance with the provisions of sections 2 to 10, inclusive, of this act, and does not include: (1) Making an initial diagnosis of a patient's terminal illness; (2) informing a patient of his or her medical diagnosis or prognosis; (3) informing a patient concerning the provisions of this section and sections 2 to 18, inclusive, of this act, upon the patient's request; or (4) referring a patient to another health care provider for aid in dying.

(b) Participation in any act described in sections 1 to 18, inclusive, of this act by a patient, health care provider or any other person shall be voluntary. Each health care provider shall individually and affirmatively determine whether to participate in the provision of medication to a qualified patient for aid in dying. A health care facility shall not require a health care provider to participate in the provision of medication to a qualified patient for aid in dying, but may prohibit such participation in accordance with subsection (d) of this section.

(c) If a health care provider or health care facility is unwilling to participate in the provision of medication to a qualified patient for aid in dying, such health care provider or health care facility shall transfer all relevant medical records to any health care provider or health care facility, as requested by a qualified patient.

(d) A health care facility may adopt written policies prohibiting a health care provider associated with such health care facility from participating in the provision of medication to a patient for aid in dying, provided such facility provides written notice of such policy and any sanctions for violation of such policy to such health care provider. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection or any policies adopted in accordance with this subsection, any qualified health care provider may: (1) Diagnose a patient with a terminal illness; (2) inform a patient of his or her medical prognosis; (3) provide a patient with information concerning the provisions of sections 1 to 18, inclusive, of this act upon a patient's request; (4) refer a patient to another health care facility or health care provider; (5) transfer a patient's medical records to a health care provider or health care facility, as requested by a patient; or (6) participate in the provision of medication for aid in dying when such health care provider is acting outside the scope of his or her employment or contract with a health care facility that prohibits participation in the provision of such medication.

Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) Any person who without authorization of a patient wilfully alters or forges a request for aid in dying, as described in sections 3 and 4 of this act, or conceals or destroys a rescission of such a request for aid in dying with the intent or effect of causing the patient's death, is guilty of attempted murder or murder under section 53a-54 of the general statutes.

(b) Any person who coerces or exerts undue influence on a patient to complete a request for aid in dying, as described in sections 3 and 4 of this act, or coerces or exerts undue influence on a patient to destroy a rescission of such request with the intent or effect of causing the patient's death, is guilty of attempted murder or murder under section 53a-54a of the general statutes.

Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) Nothing in sections 1 to 17, inclusive, of this act, authorizes a physician or any other person to end a patient's life by lethal injection, mercy killing, assisting a suicide or any other active euthanasia.

(b) Any action taken in accordance with sections 1 to 18, inclusive, of this act, does not constitute causing or assisting another person to commit suicide in violation of section 53a-54a or 53a-56 of the general statutes.

(c) No report of a public agency, as defined in section 1-200 of the general statutes, may refer to the practice of obtaining and self-administering life-ending medication to end a qualified patient's life as "suicide" or "assisted suicide", and shall refer to such practice as "aid in dying".

Sec. 17. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) Sections 1 to 18, inclusive, of this act, do not limit liability for civil damages resulting from negligent conduct or intentional misconduct by any person.

Sec. 18. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) Nothing in this section or sections 1 to 17, inclusive, of this act, shall preclude criminal prosecution under any provision of law for conduct that is inconsistent with this section or sections 1 to 17, inclusive, of this act.