The bill amends the Washington Death with Dignity Act by updating definitions and requirements for accessing the act. Key changes include the insertion of new definitions such as "irremediable pain or suffering," which refers to pain or symptoms from a terminal disease that cannot be effectively managed. Additionally, the term "advanced practice registered nurse" replaces "practitioner" in several definitions, and the definition of "counseling" is expanded to include consultations with various licensed mental health professionals to ensure the patient is competent and not suffering from impairments affecting judgment.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the process for a qualified patient to receive a prescription for life-ending medication. It introduces an exemption from the seven-day waiting period for patients who are not expected to survive that long, cannot self-administer the medication, or are experiencing irremediable pain or suffering. The bill also clarifies the selection process for attending and consulting qualified medical providers, ensuring that if a physician assistant is involved, there is no direct supervisory relationship between the attending and consulting providers.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 70.245.010, 70.245.090, 70.245.230