Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB1328 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb1328
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 1328
8	8	J1 5lr1290
9	9	HB 403/24 – HGO & JUD CF SB 926
10	10	By: Delegates Hill, Acevero, Allen, Bagnall, Barnes, Boyce, Charkoudian,
11	11	Conaway, Crutchfield, Cullison, Ebersole, Fair, Feldmark, Foley, Forbes,
12	12	Guzzone, Kaiser, Kaufman, Kerr, Korman, Lehman, R. Lewis, Lopez,
13	13	McCaskill, Moon, Palakovich Carr, Pasteur, Pena–Melnyk, Qi, Ruff, Ruth,
14	14	Schindler, Shetty, Simmons, Simpson, Solomon, Spiegel, Stein, Stewar t,
15	15	Taveras, Terrasa, Vogel, Wells, Wilkins, Williams, Wolek, Woorman, Wu, and
16	16	Ziegler
17	17	Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
18	18	Assigned to: Health and Government Operations and Judiciary
19	19
20	20	A BILL ENTITLED
21	21
22	22	AN ACT concerning 1
23	23
24	24	End–of–Life Option Act 2
25	25	(The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings and the Honorable Shane E. 3
26	26	Pendergrass Act) 4
27	27
28	28	FOR the purpose of authorizing an individual to request aid in dying by making certain 5
29	29	requests; establishing requirements and prohibitions governing aid in dying, 6
30	30	including requirements related to requests for aid in dying, consulting physicians, 7
31	31	mental health assessments, the disposal of drugs prescribed for aid in dying, health 8
32	32	care facility policies, and the effect of aid in dying on insurance policies; authorizing 9
33	33	a pharmacist to dispense medication for aid in dying only to certain individuals 10
34	34	under certain circumstances; providing that the death of a qualified individual by 11
35	35	reason of self–administration of certain medication shall be deemed to be a death 12
36	36	from certain natural causes for certain purposes; providing that this Act does not 13
37	37	authorize certain individuals to end another individual’s life by certain means; 14
38	38	providing that participation by a health care provider in aid in dying is voluntary; 15
39	39	authorizing the Maryland Insurance Commissioner to enforce certain provisions of 16
40	40	this Act; establishing that a licensed health care professional does not violate the 17
41	41	statutory prohibition on assisted suicide by taking certain actions in accordance with 18
42	42	this Act; and generally relating to aid in dying. 19
43	43
44	44	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 20
45	45	Article – Criminal Law 21
46	46	Section 3–103 22
47	47	Annotated Code of Maryland 23
48	48	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 24 2 HOUSE BILL 1328
49	49
50	50
51	51
52	52	BY adding to 1
53	53	Article – Health – Genera l 2
54	54	Section 5–6A–01 through 5–6A–17 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 6A. The 3
55	55	Honorable Elijah E. Cummings and the Honorable Shane E. Pendergrass 4
56	56	End–of–Life Option Act” 5
57	57	Annotated Code of Maryland 6
58	58	(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 7
59	59
60	60	BY adding to 8
61	61	Article – Insurance 9
62	62	Section 27–208.1 10
63	63	Annotated Code of Maryland 11
64	64	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
65	65
66	66	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
67	67	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
68	68
69	69	Article – Criminal Law 15
70	70
71	71	3–103. 16
72	72
73	73	(a) A licensed health care professional does not violate § 3–102 of this subtitle by 17
74	74	administering or prescribing a procedure or administering, prescribing, or dispensing a 18
75	75	medication to relieve pain, even if the medication or procedure may hasten death or 19
76	76	increase the risk of death, unless the licensed health care professional knowingly 20
77	77	administers or prescribes the procedure or administers, prescribes, or dispenses the 21
78	78	medication to cause death. 22
79	79
80	80	(b) A licensed health care professional does not violate § 3–102 of this subtitle by 23
81	81	withholding or withdrawing a medically administered life–sustaining procedure: 24
82	82
83	83	(1) in compliance with Title 5, Subtitle 6 of the Health – General Article; 25
84	84	or 26
85	85
86	86	(2) in accordance with reasonable medical practice. 27
87	87
88	88	(C) A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL DOES NOT VIO LATE § 3–102 28
89	89	OF THIS SUBTITLE BY TAKING ANY ACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 5, 29
90	90	SUBTITLE 6A OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 30
91	91
92	92	[(c)] (D) (1) Unless the family member knowingly administers a procedure or 31
93	93	administers or dispenses a medication to cause death, a family member does not violate 32
94	94	§ 3–102 of this subtitle if the family member: 33
95	95
96	96	(i) is a caregiver for a patient enrolled in a licensed hospice program; 34
97	97	and 35 HOUSE BILL 1328 3
98	98
99	99
100	100
101	101	(ii) administers the procedure or administers or dispenses the 1
102	102	medication to relieve pain under the supervision of a health care professional. 2
103	103
104	104	(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection applies even if the medication or 3
105	105	procedure hastens death or increases the risk of death. 4
106	106
107	107	Article – Health – General 5
108	108
109	109	SUBTITLE 6A. THE HONORABLE ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS AND THE HONORABLE 6
110	110	SHANE E. PENDERGRASS END–OF–LIFE OPTION ACT. 7
111	111
112	112	5–6A–01. 8
113	113
114	114	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 9
115	115	INDICATED. 10
116	116
117	117	(B) “AID IN DYING” MEANS THE MEDICAL PR ACTICE OF A PHYSICIA N 11
118	118	PRESCRIBING MEDICATI ON TO A QUALIFIED INDIVIDU AL THAT THE QUALIFIE D 12
119	119	INDIVIDUAL MAY SELF –ADMINISTER TO BRING ABOUT THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL’S 13
120	120	DEATH. 14
121	121
122	122	(C) “ATTENDING PHYSICIAN ” MEANS THE LICENSED P HYSICIAN WHO HAS 15
123	123	PRIMARY RESPONSIBILI TY FOR THE MEDICAL C ARE OF THE INDIVIDUA L AND 16
124	124	TREATMENT OF THE INDIVI DUAL’S TERMINAL ILLNESS . 17
125	125
126	126	(D) “CAPACITY TO MAKE MEDI CAL DECISIONS” MEANS THE ABILITY OF AN 18
127	127	INDIVIDUAL TO: 19
128	128
129	129	(1) UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AND CONSEQUENCES OF A HEALTH 20
130	130	CARE DECISION; 21
131	131
132	132	(2) UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIF ICANT BENEFITS , RISKS, AND 22
133	133	ALTERNATIVES OF A HE ALTH CARE DECISION ; AND 23
134	134
135	135	(3) MAKE AND COMMUNICATE AN INFORMED DECISION TO HEALTH 24
136	136	CARE PROVIDERS , INCLUDING COMMUNICAT ION THROUGH ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL 25
137	137	FAMILIAR WITH THE IN DIVIDUAL’S MANNER OF COMMUNIC ATING, IF THE OTHER 26
138	138	INDIVIDUAL IS AVA ILABLE. 27
139	139
140	140	(E) “CONSULTING PHYSICIAN ” MEANS A LICENSED PHY SICIAN WHO IS 28
141	141	QUALIFIED BY SPECIAL TY OR EXPERIENCE TO CONFIRM A PROFESSION AL 29
142	142	DIAGNOSIS AND PROGNO SIS REGARDING AN IND IVIDUAL’S TERMINAL ILLNESS . 30
143	143
144	144	(F) “HEALTH CARE FACILITY ” MEANS: 31 4 HOUSE BILL 1328
145	145
146	146
147	147
148	148	(1) A HOSPITAL, AS DEFINED IN § 19–301 OF THIS ARTICLE; 1
149	149
150	150	(2) A HOSPICE FACILITY , AS DEFINED IN § 19–901 OF THIS ARTICLE; 2
151	151
152	152	(3) AN ASSISTED LIVING PR OGRAM, AS DEFINED IN § 19–1801 OF THIS 3
153	153	ARTICLE; OR 4
154	154
155	155	(4) A NURSING HOME , AS DEFINED IN § 19–1401 OF THIS ARTICLE. 5
156	156
157	157	(G) “HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL LICENSED OR 6
158	158	CERTIFIED UNDER THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE TO PROVIDE HE ALTH 7
159	159	CARE OR DISPENSE MED ICATION IN THE ORDIN ARY COURSE OF BUSINE SS OR 8
160	160	PRACTICE OF A PROFES SION. 9
161	161
162	162	(H) “INFORMED DECISION ” MEANS A DECISION BY AN INDIVIDUAL THA T IS: 10
163	163
164	164	(1) BASED ON AN UNDERSTAN DING AND ACKNOWLEDGM ENT OF THE 11
165	165	RELEVANT FACTS ; AND 12
166	166
167	167	(2) MADE AFTER RECEIVING THE INFORMATION REQU IRED UNDER 13
168	168	§ 5–6A–04(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 14
169	169
170	170	(I) “LICENSED MENTAL HEALT H PROFESSIONAL ” MEANS A LICENSED 15
171	171	PSYCHIATRIST OR A LI CENSED PSYCHOLOGIST . 16
172	172
173	173	(J) “LICENSED PHYSICIAN ” MEANS A PHYSICIAN WH O IS LICENSED TO 17
174	174	PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THE STATE. 18
175	175
176	176	(K) “LICENSED PSYCHIATRIST ” MEANS A PSYCHIATRIST WHO IS LICENSED 19
177	177	TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THE STATE. 20
178	178
179	179	(L) “LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST ” MEANS A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO IS LICENSED 21
180	180	TO PRACTICE PSYCHOLO GY IN THE STATE. 22
181	181
182	182	(M) “MENTAL HEALTH PROFESS IONAL ASSESSMENT ” MEANS ONE OR MORE 23
183	183	CONSULTATIONS BETWEE N AN INDIVIDUAL AND A LICENSED MENTAL HE ALTH 24
184	184	PROFESSIONAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAS 25
185	185	THE CAPACITY TO MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS . 26
186	186
187	187	(N) “PALLIATIVE CARE ” MEANS HEALTH CARE CE NTERED ON A 27
188	188	TERMINALLY ILL INDIV IDUAL AND THE INDIVI DUAL’S FAMILY THAT: 28
189	189
190	190	(1) OPTIMIZES THE INDIVID UAL’S QUALITY OF LIFE BY 29 HOUSE BILL 1328 5
191	191
192	192
193	193	ANTICIPATING, PREVENTING , AND TREATING THE IND IVIDUAL’S SUFFERING 1
194	194	THROUGHOUT THE CONTI NUUM OF THE INDIVIDU AL’S TERMINAL ILLNESS ; 2
195	195
196	196	(2) ADDRESSES THE PHYSICA L, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND SPIRITUAL 3
197	197	NEEDS OF THE INDIVID UAL; 4
198	198
199	199	(3) FACILITATES INDIVIDUA L AUTONOMY , THE INDIVIDUAL’S ACCESS 5
200	200	TO INFORMATION , AND INDIVIDUAL CHOIC E; AND 6
201	201
202	202	(4) INCLUDES DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE INDIVIDU AL AND A 7
203	203	HEALTH CARE PROVIDER CONCERNING THE INDIV IDUAL’S GOALS FOR TREATMEN T 8
204	204	AND APPROPRIATE TREA TMENT OPTIONS AVAILA BLE TO THE INDIVIDUA L, 9
205	205	INCLUDING HOSPICE CARE AND COM PREHENSIVE PAIN AND SYMPTOM 10
206	206	MANAGEMENT . 11
207	207
208	208	(O) “PHARMACIST” MEANS A PHARMACIST W HO IS LICENSED TO PR ACTICE 12
209	209	PHARMACY IN THE STATE. 13
210	210
211	211	(P) “QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO: 14
212	212
213	213	(1) IS AN ADULT; 15
214	214
215	215	(2) HAS THE CAPACITY TO M AKE MEDICAL DECISIONS ; 16
216	216
217	217	(3) HAS A TERMINAL ILLNES S; AND 17
218	218
219	219	(4) HAS THE ABILITY TO SE LF–ADMINISTER MEDICATIO N. 18
220	220
221	221	(Q) “RELATIVE” MEANS: 19
222	222
223	223	(1) A SPOUSE; 20
224	224
225	225	(2) A CHILD; 21
226	226
227	227	(3) A GRANDCHILD ; 22
228	228
229	229	(4) A SIBLING; 23
230	230
231	231	(5) A PARENT; OR 24
232	232
233	233	(6) A GRANDPARENT . 25
234	234
235	235	(R) (1) “SELF–ADMINISTER” MEANS A QUALIFIED IN DIVIDUAL’S 26
236	236	AFFIRMATIVE, CONSCIOUS, AND VOLUNTARY ACT OF INGESTING MEDICATION 27
237	237	PRESCRIBED UNDER § 5–6A–07(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE TO BRING ABOUT THE 28 6 HOUSE BILL 1328
238	238
239	239
240	240	INDIVIDUAL’S DEATH. 1
241	241
242	242	(2) “SELF–ADMINISTER” DOES NOT INCLUDE TAK ING MEDICATION BY 2
243	243	PARENTERAL INJECTION OR INFUSION. 3
244	244
245	245	(S) “TERMINAL ILLNESS ” MEANS A MEDICAL COND ITION THAT, WITHIN 4
246	246	REASONABLE MEDICAL J UDGMENT, INVOLVES A PROGNOSIS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL 5
247	247	THAT THE CONDITION L IKELY WILL RESULT IN THE INDIVIDUAL ’S DEATH WITHIN 6 6
248	248	MONTHS. 7
249	249
250	250	(T) “WRITTEN REQUEST ” MEANS A WRITTEN REQU EST FOR AID IN DYING . 8
251	251
252	252	5–6A–02. 9
253	253
254	254	(A) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY REQ UEST AID IN DYING BY : 10
255	255
256	256	(1) MAKING AN INITIAL ORA L REQUEST TO THE IND IVIDUAL’S 11
257	257	ATTENDING PHYSICIAN ; 12
258	258
259	259	(2) AFTER MAKING AN INITI AL ORAL REQUEST , MAKING A WRITTEN 13
260	260	REQUEST TO THE INDIV IDUAL’S ATTENDING PHYSICIA N, IN ACCORDANCE WITH 14
261	261	§ 5–6A–03 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 15
262	262
263	263	(3) MAKING A SECOND ORAL REQUEST TO THE INDIV IDUAL’S 16
264	264	ATTENDING PHYSICIAN AT LEAST: 17
265	265
266	266	(I) 15 DAYS AFTER MAKING TH E INITIAL ORAL REQUE ST; AND 18
267	267
268	268	(II) 48 HOURS AFTER MAKING T HE WRITTEN REQUEST . 19
269	269
270	270	(B) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER PROVISION OF LA W, NO OTHER 20
271	271	INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING AN AGENT U NDER AN ADVANCE DIRE CTIVE, AN ATTORNEY 21
272	272	IN FACT UNDER A DURA BLE POWER OF ATTORNE Y, A GUARDIAN , OR A 22
273	273	CONSERVAT OR, MAY REQUEST AID IN D YING ON BEHALF OF AN INDIVIDUAL. 23
274	274
275	275	(C) AT LEAST ONE OF THE O RAL REQUESTS MADE UN DER SUBSECTION (A) 24
276	276	OF THIS SECTION SHAL L BE MADE WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL IS ALONE WITH THE 25
277	277	ATTENDING PHYSICIAN . 26
278	278
279	279	5–6A–03. 27
280	280
281	281	(A) A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING REQUIRE D UNDER 28
282	282	§ 5–6A–02(A)(2) OF THIS SUBTITLE SHA LL BE: 29
283	283	HOUSE BILL 1328 7
284	284
285	285
286	286	(1) IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME FORM SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION 1
287	287	(C) OF THIS SECTION; 2
288	288
289	289	(2) SIGNED AND DATED BY T HE INDIVIDUAL; AND 3
290	290
291	291	(3) WITNESSED BY AT LEAST TWO OTHER INDIVIDUALS WH O, IN THE 4
292	292	PRESENCE OF THE INDI VIDUAL, ATTEST THAT TO THE B EST OF THEIR KNOWLED GE 5
293	293	AND BELIEF THE INDIV IDUAL IS: 6
294	294
295	295	(I) OF SOUND MIND; AND 7
296	296
297	297	(II) ACTING VOLUNTARILY AN D NOT BEING COERCED TO SIGN 8
298	298	THE WRITTEN REQUEST . 9
299	299
300	300	(B) (1) ONLY ONE OF THE WITNESSES UND ER SUBSECTION (A)(3) OF THIS 10
301	301	SECTION MAY BE : 11
302	302
303	303	(I) A RELATIVE OF THE INDI VIDUAL BY BLOOD , MARRIAGE, OR 12
304	304	ADOPTION; OR 13
305	305
306	306	(II) AT THE TIME THE WRITT EN REQUEST IS SIGNED BY THE 14
307	307	INDIVIDUAL, ENTITLED TO ANY BENE FIT ON THE INDIVIDUA L’S DEATH. 15
308	308
309	309	(2) THE INDIVIDUAL ’S ATTENDING PHYSICIA N MAY NOT BE A 16
310	310	WITNESS. 17
311	311
312	312	(C) A WRITTEN REQUEST UNDE R THIS SECTION SHALL BE IN 18
313	313	SUBSTANTIALLY THE FO LLOWING FORM : 19
314	314
315	315	MARYLAND REQUEST FOR MEDICATION FOR AID IN DYING 20
316	316
317	317	BY: _______________________________ DATE OF BIRTH: ____________________ 21
318	318	(PRINT NAME) (MONTH/DAY/YEAR) 22
319	319
320	320	I, ______________________________________, AM AN ADULT OF SOUND MIND. 23
321	321
322	322	I AM SUFFERING FROM __________________________, WHICH MY ATTENDING 24
323	323	PHYSICIAN HAS DETERM INED WILL, MORE LIKELY THAN NOT , RESULT IN DEATH 25
324	324	WITHIN 6 MONTHS. I HAVE BEEN FULLY INFO RMED OF MY DIAGNOSIS , MY 26
325	325	PROGNOSIS, THE NATURE OF MEDICA TION TO BE PRESCRIBE D TO AID ME IN DYING , 27
326	326	THE POTENTIAL ASSOCI ATED RISKS, THE EXPECTED RESULT , THE FEASIBLE 28
327	327	ALTERNATIVES , AND THE ADDITIONAL H EALTH CARE TREATMENT OP TIONS, 29
328	328	INCLUDING PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOSPICE . 30
329	329	8 HOUSE BILL 1328
330	330
331	331
332	332	I HAVE ORALLY REQUESTE D THAT MY ATTENDING PHYSICIAN PRESCRIBE 1
333	333	MEDICATION THAT I MAY SELF–ADMINISTER FOR AID I N DYING, AND I NOW CONFIRM 2
334	334	THIS REQUEST . I AUTHORIZE MY ATTENDI NG PHYSICIAN TO C ONTACT A 3
335	335	PHARMACIST TO FILL T HE PRESCRIPTION FOR THE MEDICATION ON MY REQUEST. 4
336	336
337	337	INITIAL ONE: 5
338	338
339	339	_____ I HAVE INFORMED MY FAM ILY OF MY DECISION A ND TAKEN THEIR OPINI ONS 6
340	340	INTO CONSIDERATION . 7
341	341	_____ I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO INFORM MY FAMILY OF MY DECISION. 8
342	342	_____ I HAVE NO FAMILY TO INF ORM OF MY DECISION . 9
343	343
344	344	I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE THE RIGHT TO RE SCIND THIS REQUEST A T ANY TIME. 10
345	345
346	346	I UNDERSTAND THE FULL IMPORT OF THIS REQUE ST AND I EXPECT TO DIE IF AND 11
347	347	WHEN I TAKE THE MEDICATION TO BE PRESCRIBED . I FURTHER UNDERSTAND T HAT, 12
348	348	ALTHOUGH MOST DEATHS OCCUR WITHIN 3 HOURS, MY DEATH MAY TAKE LO NGER, 13
349	349	AND MY ATTENDING PHY SICIAN HAS COUNSELED ME ABOUT THIS POSSIB ILITY. 14
350	350
351	351	I MAKE THIS REQUEST VO LUNTARILY AND WITHOU T RESERVATION , AND I ACCEPT 15
352	352	FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY DECISION TO R EQUEST AID IN DYING. 16
353	353
354	354	SIGNED: _______________________________________ DATED: _____________________ 17
355	355
356	356	DECLARATION OF WITNESSES 18
357	357
358	358	I UNDERSTAND THAT , UNDER MARYLAND LAW , A WITNESS TO A REQUE ST FOR 19
359	359	MEDICATION FOR AID I N DYING MAY NOT BE T HE INDIVIDUAL ’S ATTENDING 20
360	360	PHYSICIAN. FURTHER, ONLY ONE OF THE WITN ESSES MAY BE: 21
361	361
362	362	1. A RELATIVE OF THE INDI VIDUAL BY BLOOD , MARRIAGE, OR ADOPTION; 22
363	363	OR 23
364	364
365	365	2. AT THE TIME THE WRITT EN REQUEST IS SIGNED BY THE INDIVIDUAL , 24
366	366	ENTITLED TO ANY BENE FIT ON THE INDIVIDUA L’S DEATH. 25
367	367
368	368	BY SIGNING BELOW ON THE DATE TH E INDIVIDUAL NAMED A BOVE SIGNS, I 26
369	369	DECLARE THAT : 27
370	370
371	371	THE INDIVIDUAL MAKING AND SIGNING THE ABOV E REQUEST: 28
372	372
373	373	1. IS PERSONALLY KNOWN T O ME OR HAS PROVIDED PROOF OF IDENTITY ; 29
374	374
375	375	2. SIGNED THIS REQUEST I N MY PRESENCE ON THE DATE OF THE 30 HOUSE BILL 1328 9
376	376
377	377
378	378	INDIVIDUAL’S SIGNATURE; 1
379	379
380	380	3. APPEARS TO BE OF SOUN D MIND AND NOT UNDER DURESS, FRAUD, OR 2
381	381	UNDUE INFLUENCE ; AND 3
382	382
383	383	4. IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL FOR WHOM I AM THE ATTENDING PHY SICIAN. 4
384	384
385	385	WITNESS 1 5
386	386	(CHECK ONE) 6
387	387
388	388	_____________ I AM: 7
389	389
390	390	_____________ I AM NOT: 8
391	391
392	392	1. A RELATIVE OF T HE INDIVIDUAL BY BLO OD, MARRIAGE, OR ADOPTION; 9
393	393	OR 10
394	394
395	395	2. AT THE TIME THE REQUE ST IS SIGNED, ENTITLED TO ANY BENE FIT ON 11
396	396	THE INDIVIDUAL ’S DEATH. 12
397	397
398	398	PRINTED NAME OF WITNESS 1 ______________________________ 13
399	399	SIGNATURE OF WITNESS 1 ____________________________ DATE _______________. 14
400	400
401	401	WITNESS 2 15
402	402	(CHECK ONE) 16
403	403
404	404	_____________ I AM: 17
405	405
406	406	_____________ I AM NOT: 18
407	407
408	408	1. A RELATIVE OF THE INDI VIDUAL BY BLOOD , MARRIAGE, OR ADOPTION; 19
409	409	OR 20
410	410
411	411	2. AT THE TIME THE REQUE ST IS SIGNED, ENTITLED TO ANY BENE FIT ON 21
412	412	THE INDIVIDUAL ’S DEATH. 22
413	413
414	414	PRINTED NAME OF WITNESS 2 _______________________________ 23
415	415	SIGNATURE OF WITNESS 2 ____________________________ DATE _______________. 24
416	416
417	417	5–6A–04. 25
418	418
419	419	(A) (1) WHEN AN ATTENDING PHY SICIAN IS PRESENTED WITH AN 26
420	420	INDIVIDUAL’S WRITTEN REQUEST , THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN SHALL DE TERMINE 27
421	421	WHETHER THE INDIVIDU AL: 28
422	422	10 HOUSE BILL 1328
423	423
424	424
425	425	(I) IS A QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL; 1
426	426
427	427	(II) HAS MADE AN INFORMED DECISION; AND 2
428	428
429	429	(III) HAS VOLUNTARILY REQUE STED AID IN DYING. 3
430	430
431	431	(2) AN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT A QUALIFIED INDIVIDU AL SOLELY DUE TO 4
432	432	AGE, DISABILITY, OR A SPECIFIC ILLNESS. 5
433	433
434	434	(B) AN ATTENDING PHYSICIA N SHALL ENSURE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL MAKES 6
435	435	AN INFORMED DECISION BY INFORMING THE IND IVIDUAL OF: 7
436	436
437	437	(1) THE INDIVIDUAL’S MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS ; 8
438	438
439	439	(2) THE INDIVIDUAL’S PROGNOSIS; 9
440	440
441	441	(3) THE POTENTIAL RISKS A SSOCIATED WITH SELF –ADMINISTERING 10
442	442	THE MEDICATION TO BE PRESCRIBED FOR AID I N DYING; 11
443	443
444	444	(4) THE PROBABLE RESULT O F SELF–ADMINISTERING THE 12
445	445	MEDICATION TO BE PRE SCRIBED FOR AID IN D YING; AND 13
446	446
447	447	(5) ANY FEASIBLE ALTERNAT IVES AND HEALTH CARE TREATMENT 14
448	448	OPTIONS, INCLUDING PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOSPICE . 15
449	449
450	450	(C) SUBJECT TO § 5–6A–06 OF THIS SUBTITLE , IF THE ATTENDING 16
451	451	PHYSICIAN DETERMINES THAT AN INDIVIDUAL I S A QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL, HAS 17
452	452	MADE AN INFORMED DEC ISION, AND HAS VOLUNTARILY REQUESTED AID IN DYI NG, 18
453	453	THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN SHALL REFE R THE INDIVIDUAL TO A CONSULTING 19
454	454	PHYSICIAN TO CARRY O UT THE DUTIES REQUIR ED UNDER § 5–6A–05 OF THIS 20
455	455	SUBTITLE. 21
456	456
457	457	5–6A–05. 22
458	458
459	459	A CONSULTING PHYSICIAN TO WHOM AN INDIVIDUA L HAS BEEN REFERRED 23
460	460	UNDER § 5–6A–04(C) OF THIS SUBTITLE SHA LL: 24
461	461
462	462	(1) EXAMINE THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE I NDIVIDUAL’S RELEVANT 25
463	463	MEDICAL RECORDS ; 26
464	464
465	465	(2) CONFIRM THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN’S DIAGNOSIS THAT THE 27
466	466	INDIVIDUAL HAS A TER MINAL ILLNESS; 28
467	467
468	468	(3) IF REQUIRED UNDER § 5–6A–06 OF THIS SUBTITLE , REFER THE 29 HOUSE BILL 1328 11
469	469
470	470
471	471	INDIVIDUAL FOR A MEN TAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ASSESSM ENT; 1
472	472
473	473	(4) VERIFY THAT THE INDIV IDUAL IS A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL, HAS 2
474	474	MADE AN INFORMED DEC ISION, AND HAS VOLUNTARILY REQUESTED AID IN DYI NG; 3
475	475	AND 4
476	476
477	477	(5) DOCUMENT THE FULFILLM ENT OF THE CONSULTIN G PHYSICIAN’S 5
478	478	DUTIES UNDER THIS SE CTION IN WRITING. 6
479	479
480	480	5–6A–06. 7
481	481
482	482	(A) IF, IN THE MEDICAL OPINI ON OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR THE 8
483	483	CONSULTING PHYSICIAN , AN INDIVIDUAL MAY BE SUFFERING FROM A CON DITION 9
484	484	THAT IS CAUSING IMPA IRED JUDGMENT OR OTH ERWISE DOES NOT HAVE THE 10
485	485	CAPACITY TO MAKE MED ICAL DECISIONS , THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN OR THE 11
486	486	CONSULTING PHYSICIAN SHALL REFER THE INDI VIDUAL TO A LICENSED MENTAL 12
487	487	HEALTH PROFESSIONAL FOR A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ASSESSM ENT. 13
488	488
489	489	(B) IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS R EFERRED FOR A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL 14
490	490	ASSESSMENT UNDER SUB SECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, AN ATTENDING PHYSICI AN 15
491	491	MAY NOT PROVIDE THE INDIVIDUAL MEDICATIO N FOR AID IN DYING U NTIL THE 16
492	492	LICENSED MENTAL HEAL TH PROFESSIONAL PROV IDING THE MENTAL HEA LTH 17
493	493	PROFESSIONAL ASSESSM ENT: 18
494	494
495	495	(1) DETERMINES THAT THE I NDIVIDUAL HAS THE CA PACITY TO MAKE 19
496	496	MEDICAL DECISIONS AN D IS NOT SUFFERING F ROM A CONDITION THAT IS CAUSING 20
497	497	IMPAIRED JUDGMENT ; AND 21
498	498
499	499	(2) COMMUNICATES THIS DET ERMINATION TO THE AT TENDING 22
500	500	PHYSICIAN AND THE CO NSULTING PHYSICIAN I N WRITING. 23
501	501
502	502	5–6A–07. 24
503	503
504	504	(A) AFTER THE ATTENDING P HYSICIAN AND THE CONSU LTING PHYSICIAN 25
505	505	HAVE FULFILLED THE R EQUIREMENTS UNDER §§ 5–6A–04 AND 5–6A–05 OF THIS 26
506	506	SUBTITLE, AND AFTER THE QUALIF IED INDIVIDUAL SUBMI TS A SECOND ORAL 27
507	507	REQUEST FOR AID IN D YING, AS REQUIRED UNDER § 5–6A–02 OF THIS SUBTITLE , 28
508	508	THE ATTENDIN G PHYSICIAN SHALL : 29
509	509
510	510	(1) INFORM THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL THAT IT I S THE DECISION OF 30
511	511	THE QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL AS TO WHETHER A ND WHEN TO SELF –ADMINISTER THE 31
512	512	MEDICATION PRESCRIBE D FOR AID IN DYING; 32
513	513
514	514	(2) (I) INFORM THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL THAT THE QUALIFIED 33 12 HOUSE BILL 1328
515	515
516	516
517	517	INDIVIDUAL MAY WISH TO NOTIFY NEXT OF KI N OF THE REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING; 1
518	518	AND 2
519	519
520	520	(II) INFORM THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL THAT A FA ILURE TO 3
521	521	NOTIFY NEXT OF KIN I S NOT A BASIS FOR DE NIAL OF THE REQUEST FOR AID IN 4
522	522	DYING; 5
523	523
524	524	(3) COUNSEL THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL CONCERNING THE 6
525	525	IMPORTANCE OF : 7
526	526
527	527	(I) HAVING ANOTHER INDIVI DUAL PRESENT WHEN TH E 8
528	528	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL SELF–ADMINISTERS THE MEDI CATION PRESCRIBED FO R 9
529	529	AID IN DYING; 10
530	530
531	531	(II) NOT TAKING THE MEDICA TION IN A PUBLIC PLA CE; AND 11
532	532
533	533	(III) PARTICIPATING IN A HOSPICE PROGRAM ; 12
534	534
535	535	(4) ENCOURAGE THE QUALIFI ED INDIVIDUAL TO PRE PARE AN 13
536	536	ADVANCE DIRECTIVE ; 14
537	537
538	538	(5) CONFIRM THAT THE QUAL IFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S REQUEST DOES 15
539	539	NOT ARISE FROM COERC ION OR UNDUE INFLUEN CE BY ANOTHER INDIVI DUAL BY 16
540	540	DISCUSSING WITH THE QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL, OUTSIDE THE PRESENCE OF ANY 17
541	541	OTHER INDIVIDUAL EXC EPT FOR AN INTERPRET ER, WHETHER THE QUALIFIE D 18
542	542	INDIVIDUAL IS FEELIN G COERCED OR UNDULY INFLUENCED BY ANOTHE R 19
543	543	INDIVIDUAL; 20
544	544
545	545	(6) INFORM THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL THAT THE QUALIFIED 21
546	546	INDIVIDUAL MAY RESCI ND THE REQUEST FOR AID I N DYING AT ANY TIME AND IN ANY 22
547	547	MANNER; 23
548	548
549	549	(7) VERIFY, IMMEDIATELY BEFORE W RITING THE PRESCRIPT ION FOR 24
550	550	MEDICATION FOR AID I N DYING, THAT THE QUALIFIED I NDIVIDUAL IS MAKING AN 25
551	551	INFORMED DECISION ; 26
552	552
553	553	(8) FULFILL THE DOCUMENTA TION REQUIREMEN TS ESTABLISHED 27
554	554	UNDER § 5–6A–08 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 28
555	555
556	556	(9) (I) IF THE ATTENDING PHYS ICIAN HOLDS A DISPEN SING 29
557	557	PERMIT FROM THE STATE BOARD OF PHYSICIANS AND WISHES TO DISPENSE THE 30
558	558	MEDICATION, DISPENSE TO THE QUAL IFIED INDIVIDUAL: 31
559	559
560	560	1. THE PRESCRIBED MEDI CATION FOR AID IN DY ING; 32 HOUSE BILL 1328 13
561	561
562	562
563	563	AND 1
564	564
565	565	2. ANY ANCILLARY MEDICAT IONS NEEDED TO MINIM IZE 2
566	566	THE QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL’S DISCOMFORT ; OR 3
567	567
568	568	(II) IF THE ATTENDING PHYS ICIAN DOES NOT HOLD A 4
569	569	DISPENSING PERMIT OR DOES NOT WISH TO DIS PENSE THE MEDICATION FOR AID IN 5
570	570	DYING, AND THE QUALIFIED IN DIVIDUAL REQUESTS AN D PROVIDES WRITTEN 6
571	571	CONSENT FOR THE MEDI CATION FOR AID IN DY ING TO BE DISPENSED BY A 7
572	572	PHARMACIST : 8
573	573
574	574	1. CONTACT A PHARMACIST ; 9
575	575
576	576	2. INFORM THE PHARMACIST OF THE PRESCRIPTION 10
577	577	FOR MEDICATION FOR A ID IN DYING; AND 11
578	578
579	579	3. SUBMIT THE PRESCRIPTI ON FOR MEDICATION FO R 12
580	580	AID IN DYING TO THE PHARMACIST BY ANY ME ANS AUTHORIZED BY LA W. 13
581	581
582	582	(B) (1) A PHARMACIST WHO HAS B EEN CONTACTED AND IN FORMED BY AN 14
583	583	ATTENDING PHYSICIAN AND TO WHOM AN ATTEN DING PHYSICIAN HAS S UBMITTED A 15
584	584	PRESCRIPTION FOR MEDICATION F OR AID IN DYING IN A CCORDANCE WITH THE 16
585	585	REQUIREMENTS OF SUBS ECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION MAY DISPENSE THE 17
586	586	MEDICATION FOR AID I N DYING AND ANY ANCI LLARY MEDICATION ONL Y TO THE 18
587	587	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL , THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN, OR AN EXPRESSLY I DENTIFIED 19
588	588	AGENT OF THE QUALIFI ED INDIVIDUAL. 20
589	589
590	590	(2) IF A PHARMACIST WHO H AS BEEN CONTACTED UN DER 21
591	591	SUBSECTION (A)(9)(II) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT WISH TO OR IS UN ABLE TO 22
592	592	DISPENSE THE MEDICAT ION FOR AID IN DYING OR ANY ANCILLARY MED ICATION, 23
593	593	THE PHARMACIST SHALL NOTIFY THE QUA LIFIED INDIVIDUAL , THE ATTENDING 24
594	594	PHYSICIAN, AND ANY EXPRESSLY ID ENTIFIED AGENT OF TH E QUALIFIED 25
595	595	INDIVIDUAL THAT THE PHARMACIST DOES NOT WISH TO OR IS UNABLE TO DISPENSE 26
596	596	THE MEDICATION . 27
597	597
598	598	(C) IF A QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL SELF–ADMINISTERS ME DICATION FOR AID 28
599	599	IN DYING AND DIES , THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN MAY SIGN THE QUA LIFIED 29
600	600	INDIVIDUAL’S DEATH CERTIFICATE . 30
601	601
602	602	5–6A–08. 31
603	603
604	604	(A) WITH RESPECT TO A REQ UEST BY A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL FOR AID I N 32
605	605	DYING, THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN SHALL ENSURE THA T THE MEDICAL R ECORD OF 33
606	606	THE QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL DOCUMENTS OR CO NTAINS: 34 14 HOUSE BILL 1328
607	607
608	608
609	609
610	610	(1) THE BASIS FOR DETERMI NING THAT THE QUALIF IED INDIVIDUAL 1
611	611	IS AN ADULT; 2
612	612
613	613	(2) ALL ORAL AND WRITTEN REQUESTS BY THE QUAL IFIED 3
614	614	INDIVIDUAL FOR MEDIC ATION FOR AID IN DYI NG; 4
615	615
616	616	(3) THE ATTENDING PHYS ICIAN’S: 5
617	617
618	618	(I) DIAGNOSIS OF THE QUAL IFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S TERMINAL 6
619	619	ILLNESS AND PROGNOSI S; AND 7
620	620
621	621	(II) DETERMINATION THAT TH E QUALIFIED INDIVIDU AL HAS 8
622	622	THE CAPACITY TO MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS , HAS MADE AN INFORMED DECISION, 9
623	623	AND HAS VOLUNTARILY REQUESTED AID I N DYING; 10
624	624
625	625	(4) DOCUMENTATION THAT TH E CONSULTING PHYSICI AN HAS 11
626	626	FULFILLED THE CONSUL TING PHYSICIAN ’S DUTIES UNDER § 5–6A–05 OF THIS 12
627	627	SUBTITLE; 13
628	628
629	629	(5) A REPORT OF THE OUTCOM E OF AND DETERMINATI ONS MADE 14
630	630	DURING THE MENTAL HE ALTH PROFESSIONAL AS SESSMENT IF: 15
631	631
632	632	(I) THE QUALIFIED INDIVID UAL WAS REFERRED FOR A MENTAL 16
633	633	HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT IN ACCORD ANCE WITH § 5–6A–06 OF THIS 17
634	634	SUBTITLE; AND 18
635	635
636	636	(II) THE MENTAL HEALTH PRO FESSIONAL ASSESSMENT WAS 19
637	637	PROVIDED; 20
638	638
639	639	(6) DOCUMENTATION OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN ’S OFFER TO 21
640	640	THE QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL TO RESCIND THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S REQUEST 22
641	641	FOR MEDICATION FOR A ID IN DYING AT THE T IME THE ATTENDING PH YSICIAN 23
642	642	WROTE THE PRESCRIPTI ON FOR THE MEDICATIO N FOR THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL; 24
643	643	AND 25
644	644
645	645	(7) A STATEMENT BY THE ATT ENDING PHYSICIAN: 26
646	646
647	647	(I) INDICATING THAT ALL R EQUIREMENTS FOR AID IN DYING 27
648	648	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE HAVE BEEN MET ; AND 28
649	649
650	650	(II) SPECIFYING THE STEPS TAKEN TO CARRY OUT T HE 29
651	651	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING, INCLUDING THE MEDICA TION 30
652	652	PRESCRIBED FOR AID IN DYING. 31 HOUSE BILL 1328 15
653	653
654	654
655	655
656	656	(B) THE ATTENDING PHYSICI AN SHALL SUBMIT TO T HE DEPARTMENT ANY 1
657	657	INFORMATION REGARDIN G IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SUBTITLE REQUIR ED BY 2
658	658	REGULATIONS ADOPTED UNDER § 5–6A–09(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 3
659	659
660	660	5–6A–09. 4
661	661
662	662	(A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO FACILITATE THE 5
663	663	COLLECTION OF INFORM ATION UNDER § 5–6A–08(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 6
664	664
665	665	(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROD UCE AND MAKE AVAILAB LE TO THE 7
666	666	PUBLIC AN ANNUAL STA TISTICAL REPORT OF I NFORMATION COLLECTED UNDER 8
667	667	SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 9
668	668
669	669	(C) RECORDS OR INFORMATION COLLECTED OR MAINTAINED UNDER THIS 10
670	670	SUBTITLE ARE NOT SUB JECT TO SUBPOENA OR DISCOVERY AND MAY NO T BE 11
671	671	INTRODUCED INTO EVID ENCE IN ANY JUDICIAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE PR OCEEDING, 12
672	672	EXCEPT TO RESOLVE MA TTERS CONCERNING COM PLIANCE WITH THIS SU BTITLE OR 13
673	673	AS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALL Y PROVIDED BY LAW . 14
674	674
675	675	5–6A–10. 15
676	676
677	677	A PERSON THAT , AFTER A QUALIFIED IN DIVIDUAL’S DEATH, IS IN POSSESSION 16
678	678	OF MEDICATION PRESCR IBED FOR AID IN DYIN G THAT HAS NOT BEEN 17
679	679	SELF–ADMINISTERED SHALL D ISPOSE OF THE MEDICA TION IN A LAWFUL MAN NER. 18
680	680
681	681	5–6A–11. 19
682	682
683	683	(A) FOR ALL LEGAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS , RECORD–KEEPING 20
684	684	PURPOSES, AND OTHER PURPOSES G OVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE, 21
685	685	WHETHER CONTRACTUAL , CIVIL, CRIMINAL, OR OTHERWISE , THE DEATH OF A 22
686	686	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL BY REASON OF THE SEL F–ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION 23
687	687	PRESCRIBED UNDER THI S SUBTITLE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A DEATH FROM 24
688	688	NATURAL CAUSES , SPECIFICALLY AS A RE SULT OF THE TERMINAL ILLNESS FROM 25
689	689	WHICH THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL SUFFERED . 26
690	690
691	691	(B) A PROVISION IN A CONTR ACT OR ANY OTHER LEG AL INSTRUMENT TH AT 27
692	692	IS CONTRARY TO SUBSE CTION (A) OF THIS SECTION IS V OID. 28
693	693
694	694	(C) SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO 29
695	695	PROHIBIT THE PROSECU TION OF A PERSON FOR MURDER OR ATTEMPTED MURDER 30
696	696	IF THE PERSON , WITH THE INTENT OR E FFECT OF CAUSING THE INDIVIDUAL’S 31
697	697	DEATH: 32
698	698	16 HOUSE BILL 1328
699	699
700	700
701	701	(1) WILLFULLY ALTERS OR F ORGES A REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING; 1
702	702
703	703	(2) CONCEALS OR DESTROYS A RESCISSION OF A RE QUEST FOR AID IN 2
704	704	DYING; 3
705	705
706	706	(3) COERCES OR EXERTS UND UE INFLUENCE ON AN I NDIVIDUAL TO 4
707	707	COMPLETE A REQUEST F OR AID IN DYING; OR 5
708	708
709	709	(4) COERCES OR EXERTS UNDUE INFL UENCE ON AN INDIVIDU AL TO 6
710	710	DESTROY A RESCISSION OF A REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING. 7
711	711
712	712	(D) (1) THIS SUBTITLE DOES NO T AUTHORIZE A LICENS ED PHYSICIAN OR 8
713	713	ANY OTHER PERSON TO END AN INDIVIDUAL ’S LIFE BY LETHAL INJ ECTION, MERCY 9
714	714	KILLING, OR ACTIVE EUTHANASIA. 10
715	715
716	716	(2) ACTIONS TAKEN IN ACCO RDANCE WITH THIS SUB TITLE DO NOT, 11
717	717	FOR ANY PURPOSE , CONSTITUTE SUICIDE , ASSISTED SUICIDE , MERCY KILLING , OR 12
718	718	HOMICIDE. 13
719	719
720	720	5–6A–12. 14
721	721
722	722	(A) A PROVISION IN A STATE OR FEDERAL INSU RANCE POLICY, AN ANNUITY, 15
723	723	A CONTRACT, OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT , ISSUED OR MADE ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 16
724	724	1, 2025, IS NOT VALID TO THE EXTENT THAT THE PROV ISION WOULD ATTACH 17
725	725	CONSEQUENCES TO OR O THERWISE RESTRICT OR INFLUENCE AN INDIVID UAL’S 18
726	726	DECISION TO MAKE OR RESCIND A REQUEST FO R AID IN DYING UNDER THIS 19
727	727	SUBTITLE. 20
728	728
729	729	(B) AN OBLIGATION UNDER A CONTRACT EXISTING ON OCTOBER 1, 2025, 21
730	730	MAY NOT BE CONDITION ED ON OR AFFECTED BY THE MAKING OR RESCIN DING OF A 22
731	731	REQUEST FOR AID IN D YING UNDER THIS SUBT ITLE. 23
732	732
733	733	(C) A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S ACT OF SELF–ADMINISTERING MEDICA TION 24
734	734	FOR AID IN DYING MAY NOT HAVE AN EFFECT U NDER A LIFE INSURANC E POLICY, A 25
735	735	HEALTH INSURANCE POL ICY OR CONTRACT , OR AN ANNUITY CONTRA CT THAT 26
736	736	DIFFERS FROM THE EFF ECT UNDER THE POLICY OR CONTRACT OF THE Q UALIFIED 27
737	737	INDIVIDUAL’S DEATH FROM NATURAL CAUSES. 28
738	738
739	739	5–6A–13. 29
740	740
741	741	(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN § 5–6A–14(C) OF THIS SUBTITLE: 30
742	742
743	743	(1) A PERSON MAY NOT BE SU BJECT TO CIVIL OR CR IMINAL LIABILITY 31
744	744	OR PROFESSIONAL DISC IPLINARY ACTION FOR PARTICIPATING IN GOO D FAITH 32 HOUSE BILL 1328 17
745	745
746	746
747	747	COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE, INCLUDING BEING PRES ENT WHEN A QUALIFIED 1
748	748	INDIVIDUAL SELF –ADMINISTERS MEDICATI ON PRESCRIBED FOR AI D IN DYING; AND 2
749	749
750	750	(2) A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR A HEALTH OCCUPATI ONS BOARD 3
751	751	MAY NOT SUBJECT A PE RSON TO CENSURE , DISCIPLINE, SUSPENSION, LOSS OF 4
752	752	LICENSE, LOSS OF PRIVILEGES , LOSS OF MEMBERSHIP , OR ANY OTHER PENALTY FOR 5
753	753	PARTICIPATING OR REF USING TO PARTICIPATE IN GOOD FAITH COMPLI ANCE WITH 6
754	754	THIS SUBTITLE. 7
755	755
756	756	(B) AN INDIVIDUAL’S REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING OR AN ATTENDIN G 8
757	757	PHYSICIAN’S PRESCRIPTION OF ME DICATION MADE IN GOO D FAITH COMPLIANCE 9
758	758	WITH THIS SUBTITLE DO ES NOT: 10
759	759
760	760	(1) CONSTITUTE NEGLECT FO R ANY PURPOSE OF LAW ; OR 11
761	761
762	762	(2) PROVIDE THE SOLE BASI S FOR THE APPOINTMEN T OF A 12
763	763	GUARDIAN OR CONSERVA TOR. 13
764	764
765	765	5–6A–14. 14
766	766
767	767	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 15
768	768	INDICATED. 16
769	769
770	770	(2) “NOTIFY” MEANS TO PROVIDE A S EPARATE STATEMENT IN 17
771	771	WRITING TO A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SPECIF ICALLY INFORMING THE HEALTH 18
772	772	CARE PROVIDER , BEFORE THE HEALTH CA RE PROVIDER’S PARTICIPATION IN A ID IN 19
773	773	DYING, OF A HEALTH CARE FAC ILITY’S POLICY ABOUT PARTI CIPATION IN AID IN 20
774	774	DYING. 21
775	775
776	776	(3) (I) “PARTICIPATE IN AID IN DYING” MEANS TO PERFORM THE 22
777	777	DUTIES OF AN ATTENDI NG PHYSICIAN, A CONSULTING PHYSICI AN, OR A LICENSED 23
778	778	MENTAL HEALTH PROFES SIONAL UNDER THIS SU BTITLE. 24
779	779
780	780	(II) “PARTICIPATE IN AID IN DYING” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 25
781	781
782	782	1. MAKING AN INITIAL DET ERMINATION THAT AN 26
783	783	INDIVIDUAL HAS A TER MINAL ILLNESS AND IN FORMING THE INDIVIDU AL OF THE 27
784	784	MEDICAL PROGNOSIS ; 28
785	785
786	786	2. PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SUBTITLE TO 29
787	787	AN INDIVIDUAL ON THE REQUEST OF THE INDIV IDUAL; OR 30
788	788
789	789	3. PROVIDING AN INDIVIDUAL, ON REQUEST OF THE 31
790	790	INDIVIDUAL, WITH A REFERRAL TO A NOTHER PHYSICIAN . 32 18 HOUSE BILL 1328
791	791
792	792
793	793
794	794	(B) (1) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY MAY PROHIBIT A HEALT H CARE 1
795	795	PROVIDER FROM PARTIC IPATING IN AID IN DY ING UNDER THIS SUBTI TLE ON THE 2
796	796	PREMISES OF THE PROH IBITING HEALTH CARE FACILITY IF THE PROHIBIT ING 3
797	797	HEALTH CARE FACILITY HAS NOTIFIED ALL HEA LTH CARE PROVIDERS W ITH 4
798	798	PRIVILEGES TO PRACTI CE ON THE PREMISES O F THE PROHIBITING HE ALTH CARE 5
799	799	FACILITY’S POLICY REGARDING P ARTICIPATING IN AID IN DYING. 6
800	800
801	801	(2) THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT PROHIB IT A HEALTH CARE 7
802	802	PROVIDER FROM PROVID ING HEALTH CARE SERV ICES THAT DO NOT CON STITUTE 8
803	803	PARTICIPATING IN AID IN DYING UNDER THIS SUBTITLE TO AN INDIV IDUAL. 9
804	804
805	805	(C) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY MAY SUBJECT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO 10
806	806	THE FOLLOWING SANCTI ONS IF THE SANCT IONING HEALTH CARE F ACILITY HAS 11
807	807	NOTIFIED THE SANCTIO NED HEALTH CARE PROV IDER, BEFORE THE SANCTIONE D 12
808	808	HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PARTICIPATES IN AID IN DYING, THAT THE SANCTIONING 13
809	809	HEALTH CARE FACILITY PROHIBITS PARTICIPAT ION IN AID IN DYING: 14
810	810
811	811	(1) LOSS OF PRIVILE GES, LOSS OF MEMBERSHIP , OR OTHER 15
812	812	SANCTIONS PROVIDED U NDER THE MEDICAL STA FF BYLAWS, POLICIES, AND 16
813	813	PROCEDURES OF THE SA NCTIONING HEALTH CAR E FACILITY IF THE SA NCTIONED 17
814	814	HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IS A MEMBER OF THE S ANCTIONING HEALTH CA RE 18
815	815	FACILITY’S MEDICAL STAFF AND PARTICIPATES IN AID IN DYING WHILE O N THE 19
816	816	PREMISES OF THE SANC TIONING HEALTH CARE FACILITY; 20
817	817
818	818	(2) TERMINATION OF A LEAS E OR ANY OTHER PROPE RTY CONTRACT 21
819	819	OR OTHER NONMONETARY REMEDIES PROVIDED BY A LEASE OR OTHER PRO PERTY 22
820	820	CONTRACT, NOT INCLUDING LOSS O R RESTRICTION OF MED ICAL STAFF PRIVILEGE S 23
821	821	OR EXCLUSION FROM A PROVIDER PANEL , IF THE SANCTIONED HE ALTH CARE 24
822	822	PROVIDER PARTICIPATE S IN AID IN DYING WH ILE ON THE PREMISES OF THE 25
823	823	SANCTIONING HEALTH C ARE FACILITY OR ON P ROPERTY THAT IS OWNE D BY OR 26
824	824	UNDER THE DIR ECT CONTROL OF THE S ANCTIONING HEALTH CA RE FACILITY; OR 27
825	825
826	826	(3) TERMINATION OF A CONT RACT OR OTHER NONMON ETARY 28
827	827	REMEDIES PROVIDED BY A CONTRACT IF THE SA NCTIONED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER 29
828	828	PARTICIPATES IN AID IN DYING WHILE ACTIN G IN THE COURSE AND SCOPE OF THE 30
829	829	SANCTIONED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER’S CAPACITY AS AN EMP LOYEE OR 31
830	830	INDEPENDENT CONTRACT OR OF THE SANCTIONIN G HEALTH CARE FACILI TY. 32
831	831
832	832	(D) SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT: 33
833	833
834	834	(1) A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FROM PARTICIPATING I N AID IN 34
835	835	DYING: 35
836	836	HOUSE BILL 1328 19
837	837
838	838
839	839	(I) WHILE ACTING OUTSIDE TH E COURSE AND SCOPE O F THE 1
840	840	HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ’S CAPACITY AS AN EMP LOYEE OR INDEPENDENT 2
841	841	CONTRACTOR OF THE SA NCTIONING HEALTH CAR E FACILITY; OR 3
842	842
843	843	(II) OFF THE PREMISES OF T HE SANCTIONING HEALT H CARE 4
844	844	FACILITY OR OFF ANY PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED BY OR UNDER TH E DIRECT 5
845	845	CONTROL OF THE SANCT IONING HEALTH CARE F ACILITY; OR 6
846	846
847	847	(2) AN INDIVIDUAL FROM CO NTRACTING WITH THE I NDIVIDUAL’S 7
848	848	ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR CONSULTING PHYSIC IAN TO ACT OUTSIDE T HE COURSE 8
849	849	AND SCOPE OF THE ATT ENDING PHYSICIAN ’S OR CO NSULTING PHYSICIAN ’S 9
850	850	CAPACITY AS AN EMPLO YEE OR INDEPENDENT C ONTRACTOR OF THE SAN CTIONING 10
851	851	HEALTH CARE FACILITY . 11
852	852
853	853	5–6A–15. 12
854	854
855	855	(A) (1) PARTICIPATION BY A HE ALTH CARE PROVIDER I N AID IN DYING 13
856	856	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE IS VOLUNTARY. 14
857	857
858	858	(2) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY MAY NOT REQUIRE THE PHYS ICIANS ON 15
859	859	THE MEDICAL STAFF OF THE HEALTH CARE FACI LITY TO PARTICIPATE IN AID IN 16
860	860	DYING. 17
861	861
862	862	(B) IF AN INDIVIDUAL REQU ESTS OR INDICATES AN INTEREST IN AID IN 18
863	863	DYING AND THE ATTEND ING PHYSICIAN OF THE INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT WISH TO 19
864	864	PARTICIPATE IN AID IN DYING, THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN SHALL INFORM THE 20
865	865	INDIVIDUAL THAT THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN DOES NOT WISH TO PAR TICIPATE. 21
866	866
867	867	(C) ON REQUEST , AN ATTENDING PHYSICI AN EXPEDITIOUSLY SHA LL 22
868	868	TRANSFER A COPY OF A N INDIVIDUAL’S RELEVANT MEDICAL R ECORDS TO ANOT HER 23
869	869	ATTENDING PHYSICIAN IF: 24
870	870
871	871	(1) THE INDIVIDUAL REQUES TS OR INDICATES AN I NTEREST IN AID IN 25
872	872	DYING; 26
873	873
874	874	(2) THE ORIGINAL ATTENDIN G PHYSICIAN IS UNABL E OR UNWILLING 27
875	875	TO PARTICIPATE IN AI D IN DYING FOR THE I NDIVIDUAL; AND 28
876	876
877	877	(3) THE INDIVIDUAL TRANSF ERS THE INDIVIDUAL’S CARE TO 29
878	878	ANOTHER ATTENDING PH YSICIAN. 30
879	879
880	880	(D) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY MAY ADOPT WRITTEN PO LICIES PROHIBITING 31
881	881	A LICENSED PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATED WITH THE HEALTH CARE FACILITY FROM 32
882	882	PARTICIPATING IN AID IN DYING, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 5–6A–14 OF THIS 33 20 HOUSE BILL 1328
883	883
884	884
885	885	SUBTITLE. 1
886	886
887	887	5–6A–16. 2
888	888
889	889	(A) A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ACTING WITHIN THE SC OPE OF THE HEALTH 3
890	890	CARE PROVIDER ’S LICENSE OR CERTIFI CATION AND IN COMPLI ANCE WITH THIS 4
891	891	SUBTITLE SHALL BE DE EMED TO BE ACTING WI THIN THE STANDARD OF CARE OF THE 5
892	892	PROVIDER’S LICENSE OR CERTIFI CATION. 6
893	893
894	894	(B) THIS SUBTITLE DOES NO T EXEMPT A HEALTH CA RE PROVIDER FROM 7
895	895	MEETING THE MEDICAL STANDARDS OF CARE FO R AN INDIVIDUAL ’S MEDICAL 8
896	896	TREATMENT . 9
897	897
898	898	5–6A–17. 10
899	899
900	900	(A) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WIL LFULLY ALTERS OR FOR GES A WRITTEN 11
901	901	REQUEST MADE UNDER §§ 5–6A–02 AND 5–6A–03 OF THIS SUBTITLE OR CONCEALS 12
902	902	OR DESTROYS A RESCIS SION OF AN INDIVIDUA L’S WRITTEN REQUEST WI THOUT THE 13
903	903	AUTHORIZATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND WITH THE INTENT OR EFFECT OF CAUSING 14
904	904	THE INDIVIDUAL ’S DEATH IS GUILTY OF A FELONY AND ON CONV ICTION IS SUBJECT 15
905	905	TO IMPRISONMENT NOT EXC EEDING 10 YEARS OR A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $10,000 16
906	906	OR BOTH. 17
907	907
908	908	(B) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO COE RCES OR EXERTS UNDUE INFLUENCE ON AN 18
909	909	INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE A WRITTEN REQUEST UNDE R §§ 5–6A–02 AND 5–6A–03 OF 19
910	910	THIS SUBTITLE FOR TH E PURPOSE OF ENDING THE INDIVIDUAL’S LIFE OR TO 20
911	911	DESTROY A RESCISSION OF A WRITTEN REQUEST IS GUILTY OF A FELON Y AND ON 21
912	912	CONVICTION IS SUBJEC T TO IMPRISONMENT NO T EXCEEDING 10 YEARS OR A FINE 22
913	913	NOT EXCEEDING $10,000 OR BOTH. 23
914	914
915	915	(C) A SENTENCE IMPOSED UND ER THIS SECTION MAY BE IMPOSED 24
916	916	SEPARATE FROM AND CO NSECUTIVE TO OR CONC URRENT WITH A SENTEN CE FOR 25
917	917	ANY CRIME BASED ON T HE ACT ESTABLISHING THE VIOLATION OF THI S SECTION. 26
918	918
919	919	(D) THIS SUBTITLE DOES NO T LIMIT ANY LIABILIT Y FOR CIVIL DAMAGES 27
920	920	RESULTING FROM ANY O THER NEGLIGENT CONDU CT OR INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT 28
921	921	BY ANY PERSON . 29
922	922
923	923	Article – Insurance 30
924	924
925	925	27–208.1. 31
926	926
927	927	(A) FOR ALL LEGAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER PURPOSES 32
928	928	GOVERNED BY THIS ART ICLE, THE DEATH OF AN INDI VIDUAL BY REASON OF THE 33 HOUSE BILL 1328 21
929	929
930	930
931	931	SELF–ADMINISTRATION OF ME DICATION PRESCRIBED UNDER TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 1
932	932	6A OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE SHALL BE DEEM ED TO BE A DEATH FRO M 2
933	933	NATURAL CAUSES , SPECIFICALLY AS A RE SULT OF THE TERMINAL ILLNESS FROM 3
934	934	WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL SUFFERED. 4
935	935
936	936	(B) ACTIONS TAKEN IN ACCO RDANCE WITH TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 6A OF THE 5
937	937	HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE DO NOT , FOR ANY PURPOSE , CONSTITUTE SUICIDE , 6
938	938	ASSISTED SUICIDE , MERCY KILLING , OR HOMICIDE. 7
939	939
940	940	(C) A PROVISION IN AN INSU RANCE POLICY OR CONT RACT OR AN ANNUITY 8
941	941	CONTRACT ISSUED OR D ELIVERED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2025, IS NOT VALID TO 9
942	942	THE EXTENT THAT THE PROVISI ON WOULD ATTACH CONS EQUENCES TO OR 10
943	943	OTHERWISE RESTRICT O R INFLUENCE AN INDIV IDUAL’S DECISION TO MAKE O R 11
944	944	RESCIND A REQUEST FO R AID IN DYING UNDER TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 6A OF THE 12
945	945	HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 13
946	946
947	947	(D) AN OBLIGATION UNDER A N INSURANCE POLICY OR CONTRACT O R AN 14
948	948	ANNUITY CONTRACT EXI STING ON OCTOBER 1, 2025, MAY NOT BE CONDITION ED ON 15
949	949	OR AFFECTED BY THE M AKING OR RESCINDING OF A REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING 16
950	950	UNDER TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 6A OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 17
951	951
952	952	(E) THE ACT BY AN INSURED OF SELF–ADMINISTERING MEDICA TION FOR 18
953	953	AID IN DYING UNDER TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 6A OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE 19
954	954	MAY NOT HAVE AN EFFE CT UNDER A LIFE INSU RANCE POLICY, A HEALTH INSURANCE 20
955	955	POLICY OR CONTRACT , OR AN ANNUITY CONTRA CT THAT DIFFERS FROM THE 21
956	956	EFFECT UN DER THE POLICY OR CO NTRACT OF THE INSURE D’S OR ANNUITANT ’S 22
957	957	DEATH FROM NATURAL C AUSES. 23
958	958
959	959	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, if any provision of this Act or 24
960	960	the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid for any reason in a 25
961	961	court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or any other 26
962	962	application of this Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, 27
963	963	and for this purpose the provisions of this Act are declared severable. 28
964	964
965	965	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 29
966	966	October 1, 2025. 30
967	967