The proposed bill establishes Chapter 764 of the Florida Statutes, titled "Personal Autonomy," which introduces the Florida End-of-Life Options Act. This legislation allows qualified patients—defined as adults with mental capacity who are residents of Florida and diagnosed with a terminal condition—to request medication to end their lives peacefully. Key eligibility criteria include the requirement for two oral requests and one written request for the medication, with mandatory waiting periods and the right to rescind requests at any time. The bill outlines the responsibilities of attending and consulting physicians, ensuring they are not related to the patient or entitled to any part of the patient's estate. It also mandates health care providers to maintain records and report information to the Department of Health, which will adopt rules and publish an annual report.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions to protect patients from discrimination by health insurers based on their participation in the act and establishes guidelines for the disposal of unused medication. It clarifies that a patient's request for medication does not constitute evidence of neglect and that health care providers are not obligated to provide such medication but must refer patients to willing providers. The bill also addresses the classification of actions taken under the act, ensuring they are not considered suicide or homicide, and protects individuals acting in accordance with the law from prosecution. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1700 Filed: 782.08