This bill amends current law regarding medical aid in dying by waiving the 15-day waiting period for qualified terminally ill patients under specific circumstances. Under the existing law, patients must make two oral requests and one written request for medication, with a mandatory 15-day waiting period between the initial and second oral requests, as well as between the first oral request and the issuance of a prescription. The bill introduces provisions that allow the 15-day waiting period to be waived if a physician determines, with reasonable medical certainty, that the patient is not expected to survive for 15 days. In such cases, the requirement for a second oral request may also be waived, and at least 48 hours must elapse between the initial oral request and the writing of the prescription.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the attending physician document the medical basis for the determination that the patient is not expected to survive for 15 days. Other requirements, such as the 48-hour waiting period between the receipt of the written request and the issuance of the prescription, remain unchanged. The bill aims to provide timely access to medical aid in dying for patients facing imminent death, while ensuring that proper documentation and patient rights are upheld.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 26:16-10