House Bill 598 amends the Tennessee Code Annotated to create a legal framework for the prescription of medication to qualified patients who wish to end their lives in a humane and dignified manner. The bill defines key terms such as "capable," "qualified patient," and "terminal disease," and establishes a process for patients to submit written requests for medication. It outlines the responsibilities of attending physicians, including ensuring informed decision-making, referring patients for counseling if needed, and documenting all requests in medical records. The bill also mandates waiting periods between requests and prescriptions, and allows patients to rescind their requests at any time.

Additionally, the bill protects healthcare providers from civil or criminal liability when they comply with the law in good faith and clarifies that actions taken under this law do not constitute suicide or assisted suicide. It specifies that healthcare providers are not required to participate in the process and allows them to impose sanctions on other providers who do participate, provided prior notification is given. The bill introduces penalties for those who unlawfully alter requests or coerce patients and includes a severability clause to ensure the remaining provisions remain enforceable if any part is invalidated. The act will take effect upon becoming law for rulemaking purposes, with full implementation set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-13-216(b), 39-13-216