The bill seeks to improve access to the Washington Death with Dignity Act by amending various sections to clarify definitions and procedures. Notably, it redefines terms such as "adult," "attending physician," and "consulting physician" to "qualified medical provider," thereby expanding the range of healthcare professionals eligible to participate in the process. The bill allows qualified patients to choose their attending and consulting medical providers under specific conditions, reduces the waiting period for prescription requests from fifteen days to seven days, and permits electronic transmission of required documentation to the Department of Health. Additionally, it mandates counseling for patients potentially suffering from psychiatric disorders and requires that all requests for life-ending medication be documented in the patient's medical record.

Further amendments include the stipulation that actions taken under this act do not constitute suicide or assisted suicide, and it updates terminology throughout the text to ensure a high standard of care. The bill also requires hospitals and hospice facilities to submit their end-of-life care policies to the Department of Health for public access and mandates the development of new forms to inform the public about available reproductive health care and end-of-life services. Overall, the bill emphasizes transparency and public awareness while protecting healthcare providers from liability when they comply with the law in good faith.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 70.245.010, 70.245.020, 70.245.030, 70.245.040, 70.245.050, 70.245.060, 70.245.070, 70.245.080, 70.245.090, 70.245.100, 70.245.110, 70.245.120, 70.245.150, 70.245.180, 70.245.190, 70.245.220, 70.41.520
Substitute Bill: 70.245.010, 70.245.020, 70.245.030, 70.245.040, 70.245.050, 70.245.060, 70.245.070, 70.245.080, 70.245.090, 70.245.100, 70.245.110, 70.245.120, 70.245.150, 70.245.180, 70.245.190, 70.245.220, 70.41.520
Engrossed Substitute: 70.245.010, 70.245.020, 70.245.030, 70.245.040, 70.245.050, 70.245.060, 70.245.070, 70.245.080, 70.245.090, 70.245.100, 70.245.110, 70.245.120, 70.245.150, 70.245.180, 70.245.190, 70.245.220, 70.41.520
Bill as Passed Legislature: 70.245.010, 70.245.020, 70.245.030, 70.245.040, 70.245.050, 70.245.060, 70.245.070, 70.245.080, 70.245.090, 70.245.100, 70.245.110, 70.245.120, 70.245.150, 70.245.180, 70.245.190, 70.245.220, 70.41.520
Session Law: 70.245.010, 70.245.020, 70.245.030, 70.245.040, 70.245.050, 70.245.060, 70.245.070, 70.245.080, 70.245.090, 70.245.100, 70.245.110, 70.245.120, 70.245.150, 70.245.180, 70.245.190, 70.245.220, 70.41.520