The bill introduces the "Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act," which establishes a legal framework allowing terminally ill patients in Rhode Island to request and self-administer medication to hasten their death. It outlines specific requirements for physicians, including the necessity of a bona fide physician-patient relationship, thorough documentation of the patient's requests, and confirmation of the patient's terminal condition and capability to make informed decisions.

The act provides immunity for physicians from civil or criminal liability when they comply with these provisions and protects healthcare providers who choose not to participate in the process. It ensures that patients are informed of all feasible end-of-life options, including palliative care, comfort care, hospice care, and pain control.

Additionally, the act clarifies that actions taken under this chapter do not constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing, or homicide under the law. It mandates the safe disposal of unused medications prescribed under this chapter and allows healthcare facilities to establish their own policies regarding the prescription of lethal medications. The act is designed to protect patient choice at the end of life while ensuring that all necessary safeguards are in place for both patients and healthcare providers.