Here’s the latest on doctor prescribed death around the U.S.

Here is the latest on assisted suicide activity around the country from Barbara Lyons of the Coalition for Patients Rights Action Fund: 

Active Bills to Prohibit or Limit Assisted Suicide in 2017

·         New York (A3989 – prohibits insurance coverage for assisted suicide drugs)

·         Washington (SB 5433 – strengthens informed consent in existing law)

·         Oklahoma (HB 1495 Death Certificate Accuracy Act – requires that cause of death be listed as assisted suicide if lethal drugs used).  This bill has passed in one house.

·         Montana (HOUSE BILL NO. 328 – consent is not a defense for assisted suicide.  This bill died on a tie vote in the House.

·         Kansas (House Concurrent Resolution No. 5010) – resolution in opposition to the legalization of assisted suicide

·         Arizona (Senate Bill 1439) – legislation passed and signed into law which gives conscience protection to medical professionals from involvement in assisted suicide 

Active Bills to Legalize/Expand Assisted Suicide in 2017: 

·         New Jersey (S 2474 --carryover from 2016)

·         New York (S.3151/A.2383 , A.3598 “End-of-Life Options” Act)

·         Massachusetts (H.1194, S.1225)

·         Pennsylvania (SB 238)

·         Alaska (HB 54 - Voluntary Termination of Life)

·         Oklahoma (HJR 1009  -- Ballot measure)

·         Maine (SP 113, An Act to Support Death With Dignity)

·         Minnesota (SF 1572 – End of Life Options Act)

·         Wisconsin

·         Nevada (SB 261)

·         Oregon (SB 893) 

Defeated Bills to Legalize Assisted Suicide in 2017

·         Mississippi (Death with Dignity Act Senate Bill 2283) – died in committee

·         Utah (HB 76) – tabled

·         Tennessee   (SB 1378, HB 1394) – withdrawn

·         Maryland (SB 354) – withdrawn; HB 370 – died in committee

·         Wyoming (HB 0122) – bill was drafted but not introduced, dead at this time

·         New Mexico (House Bill 171, SB 252) – defeated by Senate vote

·         Indiana (SB 273, HB 1561 ) – died in committee

·         Hawaii (HB 150, HB 201, HB 550, SB 357. SB 1129) – tabled in committee.  There is a last ditch effort going on to pull the bill from committee for a vote in the House.

·         Nebraska (Legislative Bill 450) – not a priority bill

·         Connecticut (H.B. No. 6024, HB 6238) – died in committee

·         Kansas (HB 2120 Death With Dignity Act) – died in committee

·         Arizona (HB 2336) – died in committee

·         Iowa, (Senate File 215, House File 299) – died in committee

·         Missouri (Death With Dignity Act HB 524) – attempt to add to another bill failed 

Assisted Suicide Laws Going Into Effect

·         District of Columbia.   Congressional Resolutions of Disapproval to overturn “The Death with Dignity Act of 2015” in the District of Columbia (H.J. Res 27/S.J. Res 4).  Passed in a House committee but the full House and Senate failed to act before the February 17 deadline.   Assisted suicide is now legal in the District of Columbia.