Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB926 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	sb0926
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 926
8	8	J1 5lr1315
9	9	SB 443/24 – JPR CF 5lr1290
10	10	By: Senator Smith
11	11	Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2025
12	12	Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	End–of–Life Option Act 2
19	19	(The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings and the Honorable Shane E. 3
20	20	Pendergrass Act) 4
21	21
22	22	FOR the purpose of authorizing an individual to request aid in dying by making certain 5
23	23	requests; establishing requirements and prohibitions governing aid in dying, 6
24	24	including requirements related to requests for aid in dying, consulting physicians, 7
25	25	mental health assessments, the disposal of drugs prescribed for aid in dying, health 8
26	26	care facility policies, and the effect of aid in dying on insurance policies; authorizing 9
27	27	a pharmacist to dispense medication for aid in dying only to certain individuals 10
28	28	under certain circumstances; providing that the death of a qualified individual by 11
29	29	reason of self–administration of certain medication shall be deemed to be a death 12
30	30	from certain natural causes for certain purposes; providing that this Act does not 13
31	31	authorize certain individuals to end another individual’s life by certain means; 14
32	32	providing that participation by a health care provider in aid in dying is voluntary; 15
33	33	authorizing the Maryland Insurance Commissioner to enforce certain provisions of 16
34	34	this Act; establishing that a licensed health care professional does not violate the 17
35	35	statutory prohibition on assisted suicide by taking certain actions in accordance with 18
36	36	this Act; and generally relating to aid in dying. 19
37	37
38	38	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 20
39	39	Article – Criminal Law 21
40	40	Section 3–103 22
41	41	Annotated Code of Maryland 23
42	42	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 24
43	43
44	44	BY adding to 25
45	45	Article – Health – Genera l 26
46	46	Section 5–6A–01 through 5–6A–17 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 6A. The 27
47	47	Honorable Elijah E. Cummings and the Honorable Shane E. Pendergrass 28
48	48	End–of–Life Option Act” 29 2 SENATE BILL 926
49	49
50	50
51	51	Annotated Code of Maryland 1
52	52	(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 2
53	53
54	54	BY adding to 3
55	55	Article – Insurance 4
56	56	Section 27–208.1 5
57	57	Annotated Code of Maryland 6
58	58	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 7
59	59
60	60	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
61	61	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 9
62	62
63	63	Article – Criminal Law 10
64	64
65	65	3–103. 11
66	66
67	67	(a) A licensed health care professional does not violate § 3–102 of this subtitle by 12
68	68	administering or prescribing a procedure or administering, prescribing, or dispensing a 13
69	69	medication to relieve pain, even if the medication or procedure may hasten death or 14
70	70	increase the risk of death, unless the licensed health care professional knowingly 15
71	71	administers or prescribes the procedure or administers, prescribes, or dispenses the 16
72	72	medication to cause death. 17
73	73
74	74	(b) A licensed health care professional does not violate § 3–102 of this subtitle by 18
75	75	withholding or withdrawing a medically administered life–sustaining procedure: 19
76	76
77	77	(1) in compliance with Title 5, Subtitle 6 of the Health – General Article; 20
78	78	or 21
79	79
80	80	(2) in accordance with reasonable medical practice. 22
81	81
82	82	(C) A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL DOES NO T VIOLATE § 3–102 23
83	83	OF THIS SUBTITLE BY TAKING ANY ACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 5, 24
84	84	SUBTITLE 6A OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 25
85	85
86	86	[(c)] (D) (1) Unless the family member knowingly administers a procedure or 26
87	87	administers or dispenses a medication to cause death, a family member does not violate 27
88	88	§ 3–102 of this subtitle if the family member: 28
89	89
90	90	(i) is a caregiver for a patient enrolled in a licensed hospice program; 29
91	91	and 30
92	92
93	93	(ii) administers the procedure or administers or dispenses the 31
94	94	medication to relieve pain under the supervision of a health care professional. 32
95	95
96	96	(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection applies even if the medication or 33
97	97	procedure hastens death or increases the risk of death. 34 SENATE BILL 926 3
98	98
99	99
100	100
101	101	Article – Health – General 1
102	102
103	103	SUBTITLE 6A. THE HONORABLE ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS AND THE HONORABLE 2
104	104	SHANE E. PENDERGRASS END–OF–LIFE OPTION ACT. 3
105	105
106	106	5–6A–01. 4
107	107
108	108	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 5
109	109	INDICATED. 6
110	110
111	111	(B) “AID IN DYING” MEANS THE MEDICAL PR ACTICE OF A PHYSICIA N 7
112	112	PRESCRIBING MEDICATI ON TO A QUALIFIED IN DIVIDUAL THAT THE QU ALIFIED 8
113	113	INDIVIDUAL MAY SELF –ADMINISTER TO BRING ABOUT THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL’S 9
114	114	DEATH. 10
115	115
116	116	(C) “ATTENDING PHYSICIAN ” MEANS THE LICENSED PHYSICI AN WHO HAS 11
117	117	PRIMARY RESPONSIBILI TY FOR THE MEDICAL C ARE OF THE INDIVIDUA L AND 12
118	118	TREATMENT OF THE IND IVIDUAL’S TERMINAL ILLNESS . 13
119	119
120	120	(D) “CAPACITY TO MAKE MEDI CAL DECISIONS” MEANS THE ABILITY OF AN 14
121	121	INDIVIDUAL TO: 15
122	122
123	123	(1) UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AND CONSEQUENCES OF A HEALTH 16
124	124	CARE DECISION; 17
125	125
126	126	(2) UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIF ICANT BENEFITS , RISKS, AND 18
127	127	ALTERNATIVES OF A HE ALTH CARE DECISION ; AND 19
128	128
129	129	(3) MAKE AND COMMUNICATE AN INFORMED DECISION TO HEALTH 20
130	130	CARE PROVIDERS , INCLUDING COMMUNICAT ION THROUGH ANOTHE R INDIVIDUAL 21
131	131	FAMILIAR WITH THE IN DIVIDUAL’S MANNER OF COMMUNIC ATING, IF THE OTHER 22
132	132	INDIVIDUAL IS AVAILA BLE. 23
133	133
134	134	(E) “CONSULTING PHYSICIAN ” MEANS A LICENSED PHY SICIAN WHO IS 24
135	135	QUALIFIED BY SPECIAL TY OR EXPERIENCE TO CONFIRM A PROFESSION AL 25
136	136	DIAGNOSIS AND PROGNO SIS REGARDING AN INDIVID UAL’S TERMINAL ILLNESS . 26
137	137
138	138	(F) “HEALTH CARE FACILITY ” MEANS: 27
139	139
140	140	(1) A HOSPITAL, AS DEFINED IN § 19–301 OF THIS ARTICLE; 28
141	141
142	142	(2) A HOSPICE FACILITY , AS DEFINED IN § 19–901 OF THIS ARTICLE; 29
143	143
144	144	(3) AN ASSISTED LIVING PR OGRAM, AS DEFINED IN § 19–1801 OF THIS 30 4 SENATE BILL 926
145	145
146	146
147	147	ARTICLE; OR 1
148	148
149	149	(4) A NURSING HOME , AS DEFINED IN § 19–1401 OF THIS ARTICLE. 2
150	150
151	151	(G) “HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL LICENSED OR 3
152	152	CERTIFIED UNDER THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE TO PROVIDE H EALTH 4
153	153	CARE OR DISPENSE MED ICATION IN THE ORDIN ARY COURSE OF BUSINE SS OR 5
154	154	PRACTICE OF A PROFES SION. 6
155	155
156	156	(H) “INFORMED DECISION ” MEANS A DECISION BY AN INDIVIDUAL THAT I S: 7
157	157
158	158	(1) BASED ON AN UNDERSTAN DING AND ACKNOWLEDGM ENT OF THE 8
159	159	RELEVANT FACTS ; AND 9
160	160
161	161	(2) MADE AFTER RECEIVING THE INFORMATION REQU IRED UNDER 10
162	162	§ 5–6A–04(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 11
163	163
164	164	(I) “LICENSED MENTAL HEALT H PROFESSIONAL ” MEANS A LICENSED 12
165	165	PSYCHIATRIST OR A LI CENSED PSYCHOLOGIST . 13
166	166
167	167	(J) “LICENSED PHYSICIAN ” MEANS A PHYSICIAN WH O IS LICENSED TO 14
168	168	PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THE STATE. 15
169	169
170	170	(K) “LICENSED PSYCHIATRIST ” MEANS A PSYCHIATRIST WHO IS LICENSED 16
171	171	TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THE STATE. 17
172	172
173	173	(L) “LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST ” MEANS A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO IS LICENSED 18
174	174	TO PRACTICE PSYCHOLO GY IN THE STATE. 19
175	175
176	176	(M) “MENTAL HEALTH PRO FESSIONAL ASSESSMENT ” MEANS ONE OR MORE 20
177	177	CONSULTATIONS BETWEE N AN INDIVIDUAL AND A LICENSED MENTAL HE ALTH 21
178	178	PROFESSIONAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINI NG THAT THE INDIVIDU AL HAS 22
179	179	THE CAPACITY TO MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS . 23
180	180
181	181	(N) “PALLIATIVE CARE ” MEANS HEALTH CARE CENTERED ON A 24
182	182	TERMINALLY ILL INDIV IDUAL AND THE INDIVI DUAL’S FAMILY THAT: 25
183	183
184	184	(1) OPTIMIZES THE INDIVID UAL’S QUALITY OF LIFE BY 26
185	185	ANTICIPATING, PREVENTING , AND TREATING THE IND IVIDUAL’S SUFFERING 27
186	186	THROUGHOUT THE CONTI NUUM OF THE INDIVIDU AL’S TERMINAL ILLNESS ; 28
187	187
188	188	(2) ADDRESSES THE PHYSICA L, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND SPIRITUAL 29
189	189	NEEDS OF THE INDIVID UAL; 30
190	190	SENATE BILL 926 5
191	191
192	192
193	193	(3) FACILITATES INDIVIDUA L AUTONOMY , THE INDIVIDUAL ’S ACCESS 1
194	194	TO INFORMATION , AND INDIVIDUAL CHOIC E; AND 2
195	195
196	196	(4) INCLUDES DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE INDIVIDU AL AND A 3
197	197	HEALTH CARE PROVIDER CO NCERNING THE INDIVID UAL’S GOALS FOR TREATMEN T 4
198	198	AND APPROPRIATE TREA TMENT OPTIONS AVAILA BLE TO THE INDIVIDUA L, 5
199	199	INCLUDING HOSPICE CA RE AND COMPREHENSIVE PAIN AND SYMPTOM 6
200	200	MANAGEMENT . 7
201	201
202	202	(O) “PHARMACIST” MEANS A PHARMACIST W HO IS LICENSED TO PRACTICE 8
203	203	PHARMACY IN THE STATE. 9
204	204
205	205	(P) “QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO: 10
206	206
207	207	(1) IS AN ADULT; 11
208	208
209	209	(2) HAS THE CAPACITY TO M AKE MEDICAL DECISION S; 12
210	210
211	211	(3) HAS A TERMINAL ILLNES S; AND 13
212	212
213	213	(4) HAS THE ABILITY TO SE LF–ADMINISTER MEDICATIO N. 14
214	214
215	215	(Q) “RELATIVE” MEANS: 15
216	216
217	217	(1) A SPOUSE; 16
218	218
219	219	(2) A CHILD; 17
220	220
221	221	(3) A GRANDCHILD ; 18
222	222
223	223	(4) A SIBLING; 19
224	224
225	225	(5) A PARENT; OR 20
226	226
227	227	(6) A GRANDPARENT . 21
228	228
229	229	(R) (1) “SELF–ADMINISTER” MEANS A QUALIFIED IN DIVIDUAL’S 22
230	230	AFFIRMATIVE, CONSCIOUS, AND VOLUNTARY ACT OF INGESTING MEDICATION 23
231	231	PRESCRIBED UNDER § 5–6A–07(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE TO BRING ABOUT THE 24
232	232	INDIVIDUAL’S DEATH. 25
233	233
234	234	(2) “SELF–ADMINISTER” DOES NOT INCLUDE TAK ING MEDICATION BY 26
235	235	PARENTERAL INJECTION OR INFUSION. 27
236	236
237	237	(S) “TERMINAL ILLNESS ” MEANS A MEDICAL COND ITION THAT, WITHIN 28 6 SENATE BILL 926
238	238
239	239
240	240	REASONABLE MEDICAL J UDGMENT, INVOLVES A PROGNOSIS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL 1
241	241	THAT THE CONDITION LIKELY WILL RESULT I N THE INDIVIDUAL ’S DEATH WITHIN 6 2
242	242	MONTHS. 3
243	243
244	244	(T) “WRITTEN REQUEST ” MEANS A WRITTEN REQU EST FOR AID IN DYING . 4
245	245
246	246	5–6A–02. 5
247	247
248	248	(A) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY REQ UEST AID IN DYING BY: 6
249	249
250	250	(1) MAKING AN INITIAL ORA L REQUEST TO THE IND IVIDUAL’S 7
251	251	ATTENDING PHYSICIAN ; 8
252	252
253	253	(2) AFTER MAKING AN INITI AL ORAL REQUEST , MAKING A WRITTEN 9
254	254	REQUEST TO THE INDIV IDUAL’S ATTENDING PHYSICIA N, IN ACCORDANCE WITH 10
255	255	§ 5–6A–03 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 11
256	256
257	257	(3) MAKING A SECOND ORAL REQUEST TO THE INDIV IDUAL’S 12
258	258	ATTENDING PHYSICIAN AT LEAST: 13
259	259
260	260	(I) 15 DAYS AFTER MAKING TH E INITIAL ORAL REQUE ST; AND 14
261	261
262	262	(II) 48 HOURS AFTER MAKING T HE WRITTEN REQUEST . 15
263	263
264	264	(B) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER PROVISION OF LA W, NO OTHER 16
265	265	INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING AN AGENT U NDER AN ADVANCE DIRE CTIVE, AN ATTORNEY 17
266	266	IN FACT UNDER A DURA BLE POWER OF ATTORNE Y, A GUARDIAN , OR A 18
267	267	CONSERVATOR , MAY REQUEST AID IN D YING ON BEHALF OF AN INDIVIDUAL. 19
268	268
269	269	(C) AT LEAST ONE OF THE O RAL REQUESTS MADE UN DER SUBSECTION (A) 20
270	270	OF THIS SECTION SHAL L BE MADE WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL IS ALONE WITH THE 21
271	271	ATTENDING PHYSICIAN . 22
272	272
273	273	5–6A–03. 23
274	274
275	275	(A) A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING REQUIRE D UNDER 24
276	276	§ 5–6A–02(A)(2) OF THIS SUBTITLE SHA LL BE: 25
277	277
278	278	(1) IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME FORM SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION 26
279	279	(C) OF THIS SECTION; 27
280	280
281	281	(2) SIGNED AND DATED BY T HE INDIVIDUAL; AND 28
282	282
283	283	(3) WITNESSED BY AT LEAST TWO OTHER INDIVIDUAL S WHO, IN THE 29 SENATE BILL 926 7
284	284
285	285
286	286	PRESENCE OF THE INDI VIDUAL, ATTEST THAT TO THE B EST OF THEIR KNOWLED GE 1
287	287	AND BELIEF THE INDIV IDUAL IS: 2
288	288
289	289	(I) OF SOUND MIND; AND 3
290	290
291	291	(II) ACTING VOLUNTARILY AN D NOT BEING COERCED TO SIGN 4
292	292	THE WRITTEN REQUEST . 5
293	293
294	294	(B) (1) ONLY ONE OF THE WITNE SSES UNDER SUBSECTIO N (A)(3) OF THIS 6
295	295	SECTION MAY BE : 7
296	296
297	297	(I) A RELATIVE OF THE INDI VIDUAL BY BLOOD , MARRIAGE, OR 8
298	298	ADOPTION; OR 9
299	299
300	300	(II) AT THE TIME THE WRITT EN REQUEST IS SIGNED BY THE 10
301	301	INDIVIDUAL, ENTITLED TO ANY BENE FIT ON THE INDIVIDUA L’S DEATH. 11
302	302
303	303	(2) THE INDIVIDUAL ’S ATTENDING PHYSICIA N MAY NOT BE A 12
304	304	WITNESS. 13
305	305
306	306	(C) A WRITTEN REQUEST UNDE R THIS SECTION SHALL BE IN 14
307	307	SUBSTANTIA LLY THE FOLLOWING FO RM: 15
308	308
309	309	MARYLAND REQUEST FOR MEDICATION FOR AID IN DYING 16
310	310
311	311	BY: _______________________________ DATE OF BIRTH: ____________________ 17
312	312	(PRINT NAME) (MONTH/DAY/YEAR) 18
313	313
314	314	I, ______________________________________, AM AN ADULT OF SOUND MIND. 19
315	315
316	316	I AM SUFFERING FROM __________________________, WHICH MY ATTENDING 20
317	317	PHYSICIAN HAS DETERM INED WILL, MORE LIKELY THAN NOT , RESULT IN DEATH 21
318	318	WITHIN 6 MONTHS. I HAVE BEEN FULLY INFO RMED OF MY DIAGNOSIS , MY 22
319	319	PROGNOSIS, THE NATURE OF MEDICA TION TO BE PRESCRIBE D TO AID ME IN DYING, 23
320	320	THE POTENTIAL ASSOCI ATED RISKS, THE EXPECTED RESULT , THE FEASIBLE 24
321	321	ALTERNATIVES , AND THE ADDITIONAL H EALTH CARE TREATMENT OPTIONS, 25
322	322	INCLUDING PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOSPICE . 26
323	323
324	324	I HAVE ORALLY REQUESTE D THAT MY ATTENDING PHYSICIAN PRESCRIBE 27
325	325	MEDICATION THAT I MAY SELF–ADMINISTER FOR AID I N DYING, AND I NOW CONFIRM 28
326	326	THIS REQUEST . I AUTHORIZE MY ATTENDI NG PHYSICIAN TO CONT ACT A 29
327	327	PHARMACIST TO FILL T HE PRESCRIPTION FOR THE MEDICATION ON MY REQUEST. 30
328	328
329	329	INITIAL ONE: 31 8 SENATE BILL 926
330	330
331	331
332	332
333	333	_____ I HAVE INFORMED MY FAM ILY OF MY DECISION AND TAKEN THEIR OPINIONS 1
334	334	INTO CONSIDERATION . 2
335	335	_____ I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO INFORM MY FAMILY OF MY DECISION. 3
336	336	_____ I HAVE NO FAMILY TO IN FORM OF MY DECISION . 4
337	337
338	338	I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE THE RIGHT TO RE SCIND THIS REQUEST A T ANY TIME. 5
339	339
340	340	I UNDERSTAND THE FULL IMPORT OF THIS REQUE ST AND I EXPECT TO DIE IF AND 6
341	341	WHEN I TAKE THE MEDICATION TO BE PRESCRIBED . I FURTHER UNDERSTAND T HAT, 7
342	342	ALTHOUGH MOST DEATHS OCCUR WITHIN 3 HOURS, MY DEATH MAY TAKE LO NGER, 8
343	343	AND MY ATTENDING PHY SICIAN HAS COUNSELED ME ABOUT THIS POSSIB ILITY. 9
344	344
345	345	I MAKE THIS REQUEST VO LUNTARILY AND WITHOU T RESERVATION , AND I ACCEPT 10
346	346	FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY DECISION TO R EQUEST AID IN DYING . 11
347	347
348	348	SIGNED: _______________________________________ DATED: _____________________ 12
349	349
350	350	DECLARATION OF WITNESSES 13
351	351
352	352	I UNDERSTAND THAT, UNDER MARYLAND LAW , A WITNESS TO A REQUE ST FOR 14
353	353	MEDICATION FOR AID I N DYING MAY NOT BE T HE INDIVIDUAL ’S ATTENDING 15
354	354	PHYSICIAN. FURTHER, ONLY ONE OF THE WITN ESSES MAY BE: 16
355	355
356	356	1. A RELATIVE OF THE INDI VIDUAL BY BLOOD , MARRIAGE, OR ADOPTION; 17
357	357	OR 18
358	358
359	359	2. AT THE TIME THE WRITTEN REQU EST IS SIGNED BY THE INDIVIDUAL, 19
360	360	ENTITLED TO ANY BENE FIT ON THE INDIVIDUA L’S DEATH. 20
361	361
362	362	BY SIGNING BELOW ON T HE DATE THE INDIVIDU AL NAMED ABOVE SIGNS , I 21
363	363	DECLARE THAT : 22
364	364
365	365	THE INDIVIDUAL MAKING AND SIGNING THE ABOV E REQUEST: 23
366	366
367	367	1. IS PERSONAL LY KNOWN TO ME OR HA S PROVIDED PROOF OF IDENTITY; 24
368	368
369	369	2. SIGNED THIS REQUEST I N MY PRESENCE ON THE DATE OF THE 25
370	370	INDIVIDUAL’S SIGNATURE; 26
371	371
372	372	3. APPEARS TO BE OF SOUN D MIND AND NOT UNDER DURESS, FRAUD, OR 27
373	373	UNDUE INFLUENCE ; AND 28
374	374
375	375	4. IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL FOR WHOM I AM THE ATTENDING PHY SICIAN. 29 SENATE BILL 926 9
376	376
377	377
378	378
379	379	WITNESS 1 1
380	380	(CHECK ONE) 2
381	381
382	382	_____________ I AM: 3
383	383
384	384	_____________ I AM NOT: 4
385	385
386	386	1. A RELATIVE OF THE INDI VIDUAL BY BLOOD , MARRIAGE, OR ADOPTION; 5
387	387	OR 6
388	388
389	389	2. AT THE TIME THE REQUE ST IS SIGNED, ENTITLED TO ANY BENE FIT ON 7
390	390	THE INDIVIDUAL ’S DEATH. 8
391	391
392	392	PRINTED NAME OF WITNESS 1 ______________________________ 9
393	393	SIGNATURE OF WITNESS 1 ____________________________ DATE _______________. 10
394	394
395	395	WITNESS 2 11
396	396	(CHECK ONE) 12
397	397
398	398	_____________ I AM: 13
399	399
400	400	_____________ I AM NOT: 14
401	401
402	402	1. A RELATIVE OF THE INDI VIDUAL BY BLOOD , MARRIAGE, OR ADOPTION; 15
403	403	OR 16
404	404
405	405	2. AT THE TIME THE REQUE ST IS SIGNED, ENTITLED TO ANY BENE FIT ON 17
406	406	THE INDIVIDUAL ’S DEATH. 18
407	407
408	408	PRINTED NAME OF WITNESS 2 _______________________________ 19
409	409	SIGNATURE OF WITNESS 2 ____________________________ DATE _______________. 20
410	410
411	411	5–6A–04. 21
412	412
413	413	(A) (1) WHEN AN ATTENDING PHY SICIAN IS PRESENTED WITH AN 22
414	414	INDIVIDUAL’S WRITTEN REQUEST , THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN SHALL DETERMINE 23
415	415	WHETHER THE INDIVIDU AL: 24
416	416
417	417	(I) IS A QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL; 25
418	418
419	419	(II) HAS MADE AN INFORMED DECISION; AND 26
420	420
421	421	(III) HAS VOLUNTARILY REQUESTE D AID IN DYING. 27
422	422	10 SENATE BILL 926
423	423
424	424
425	425	(2) AN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT A QUALIFIED INDIVIDU AL SOLELY DUE TO 1
426	426	AGE, DISABILITY, OR A SPECIFIC ILLNES S. 2
427	427
428	428	(B) AN ATTENDING PHYSICIA N SHALL ENSURE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL MAKES 3
429	429	AN INFORMED DECISION BY INFORMING THE IND IVIDUAL OF: 4
430	430
431	431	(1) THE INDIVIDUAL’S MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS ; 5
432	432
433	433	(2) THE INDIVIDUAL’S PROGNOSIS; 6
434	434
435	435	(3) THE POTENTIAL RISKS A SSOCIATED WITH SELF –ADMINISTERING 7
436	436	THE MEDICATION TO BE PRESCRIBED FOR AID I N DYING; 8
437	437
438	438	(4) THE PROBABLE RESULT O F SELF–ADMINISTERING THE 9
439	439	MEDICATION TO BE PRE SCRIBED FOR AID IN D YING; AND 10
440	440
441	441	(5) ANY FEASIBLE ALTERNAT IVES AND HEALTH CARE TREATMENT 11
442	442	OPTIONS, INCLUDING PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOSPICE . 12
443	443
444	444	(C) SUBJECT TO § 5–6A–06 OF THIS SUBTITLE , IF THE ATTENDING 13
445	445	PHYSICIAN DETERMINES THAT AN INDIVIDU AL IS A QUALIFIED IN DIVIDUAL, HAS 14
446	446	MADE AN INFORMED DEC ISION, AND HAS VOLUNTARILY REQUESTED AID IN DYI NG, 15
447	447	THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN SHALL REFER THE INDIVIDUAL TO A CONS ULTING 16
448	448	PHYSICIAN TO CARRY O UT THE DUTIES REQUIR ED UNDER § 5–6A–05 OF THIS 17
449	449	SUBTITLE. 18
450	450
451	451	5–6A–05. 19
452	452
453	453	A CONSULTING PHYSICIAN TO WHOM AN INDIVIDUA L HAS BEEN REFERRED 20
454	454	UNDER § 5–6A–04(C) OF THIS SUBTITLE SHA LL: 21
455	455
456	456	(1) EXAMINE THE INDIVIDUA L AND THE INDIVIDUAL ’S RELEVANT 22
457	457	MEDICAL RECORDS ; 23
458	458
459	459	(2) CONFIRM THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN’S DIAGNOSIS THAT THE 24
460	460	INDIVIDUAL HAS A TERMINAL IL LNESS; 25
461	461
462	462	(3) IF REQUIRED UNDER § 5–6A–06 OF THIS SUBTITLE , REFER THE 26
463	463	INDIVIDUAL FOR A MEN TAL HEALTH PROFESSIO NAL ASSESSMENT ; 27
464	464
465	465	(4) VERIFY THAT THE INDIV IDUAL IS A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL, HAS 28
466	466	MADE AN INFORMED DEC ISION, AND HAS VOLUNTARILY REQUESTE D AID IN DYING; 29
467	467	AND 30
468	468	SENATE BILL 926 11
469	469
470	470
471	471	(5) DOCUMENT THE FULFILLM ENT OF THE CONSULTIN G PHYSICIAN’S 1
472	472	DUTIES UNDER THIS SE CTION IN WRITING . 2
473	473
474	474	5–6A–06. 3
475	475
476	476	(A) IF, IN THE MEDICAL OPINI ON OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR THE 4
477	477	CONSULTING PHYSICIAN , AN INDIVIDUAL MAY BE SUFFERING FROM A CONDITION 5
478	478	THAT IS CAUSING IMPA IRED JUDGMENT OR OTH ERWISE DOES NOT HAVE THE 6
479	479	CAPACITY TO MAKE MED ICAL DECISIONS , THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN OR THE 7
480	480	CONSULTING PHYSICIAN SHALL REFER THE INDI VIDUAL TO A LICENSED MENTAL 8
481	481	HEALTH PROFESSIONAL FOR A MENTAL HEALTH PROF ESSIONAL ASSESSMENT . 9
482	482
483	483	(B) IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS R EFERRED FOR A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL 10
484	484	ASSESSMENT UNDER SUB SECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, AN ATTENDING PHYSICI AN 11
485	485	MAY NOT PROVIDE THE INDIVIDUAL MEDICATIO N FOR AID IN DYING U NTIL THE 12
486	486	LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PRO FESSIONAL PROVIDING THE MENTAL HEALTH 13
487	487	PROFESSIONAL ASSESSM ENT: 14
488	488
489	489	(1) DETERMINES THAT THE I NDIVIDUAL HAS THE CA PACITY TO MAKE 15
490	490	MEDICAL DECISIONS AN D IS NOT SUFFERING F ROM A CONDITION THAT IS CAUSING 16
491	491	IMPAIRED JUDGMENT ; AND 17
492	492
493	493	(2) COMMUNIC ATES THIS DETERMINAT ION TO THE ATTENDING 18
494	494	PHYSICIAN AND THE CO NSULTING PHYSICIAN I N WRITING. 19
495	495
496	496	5–6A–07. 20
497	497
498	498	(A) AFTER THE ATTENDING P HYSICIAN AND THE CON SULTING PHYSICIAN 21
499	499	HAVE FULFILLED THE R EQUIREMENTS UNDER §§ 5–6A–04 AND 5–6A–05 OF THIS 22
500	500	SUBTITLE, AND AFTER THE QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL SUBMITS A SECON D ORAL 23
501	501	REQUEST FOR AID IN D YING, AS REQUIRED UNDER § 5–6A–02 OF THIS SUBTITLE , 24
502	502	THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN SHALL: 25
503	503
504	504	(1) INFORM THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL THAT IT I S THE DECISION OF 26
505	505	THE QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL AS TO WHETHER A ND WHEN TO SELF –ADMINISTER THE 27
506	506	MEDICATION PRESCRIBE D FOR AID IN DYING; 28
507	507
508	508	(2) (I) INFORM THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL THAT THE QUALIFIED 29
509	509	INDIVIDUAL MAY WISH TO NOTIFY NEXT OF KI N OF THE REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING; 30
510	510	AND 31
511	511
512	512	(II) INFORM THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL THA T A FAILURE TO 32
513	513	NOTIFY NEXT OF KIN I S NOT A BASIS FOR DE NIAL OF THE REQUEST FOR AID IN 33
514	514	DYING; 34 12 SENATE BILL 926
515	515
516	516
517	517
518	518	(3) COUNSEL THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL CONCERNIN G THE 1
519	519	IMPORTANCE OF : 2
520	520
521	521	(I) HAVING ANOTHER INDIVI DUAL PRESENT WHEN TH E 3
522	522	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL SELF–ADMINISTERS THE MEDICATION PRESCRIBE D FOR 4
523	523	AID IN DYING; 5
524	524
525	525	(II) NOT TAKING THE MEDICA TION IN A PUBLIC PLA CE; AND 6
526	526
527	527	(III) PARTICIPATING IN A HO SPICE PROGRAM ; 7
528	528
529	529	(4) ENCOURAGE THE QUALIFI ED INDIVIDUAL TO PRE PARE AN 8
530	530	ADVANCE DIRECTIVE ; 9
531	531
532	532	(5) CONFIRM THAT THE QUAL IFIED INDIVIDUAL’S REQUEST DOES 10
533	533	NOT ARISE FROM COERC ION OR UNDUE INFLUEN CE BY ANOTHER INDIVI DUAL BY 11
534	534	DISCUSSING WITH THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL , OUTSIDE THE PRESENCE OF ANY 12
535	535	OTHER INDIVIDUAL EXC EPT FOR AN INTERPRET ER, WHETHER THE QUALIFIE D 13
536	536	INDIVIDUAL IS FEELIN G COERCED OR UNDULY INFLUENCED BY ANOTHER 14
537	537	INDIVIDUAL; 15
538	538
539	539	(6) INFORM THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL THAT THE QUALIFIED 16
540	540	INDIVIDUAL MAY RESCI ND THE REQUEST FOR A ID IN DYING AT ANY TIME AND IN ANY 17
541	541	MANNER; 18
542	542
543	543	(7) VERIFY, IMMEDIATELY BEFORE W RITING THE PRESCRIPT ION FOR 19
544	544	MEDICATION FOR AID IN DYING , THAT THE QUALIFIED I NDIVIDUAL IS MAKING AN 20
545	545	INFORMED DECISION ; 21
546	546
547	547	(8) FULFILL THE DOCUMENTA TION REQUIREMENTS ES TABLISHED 22
548	548	UNDER § 5–6A–08 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 23
549	549
550	550	(9) (I) IF THE ATTENDING PHYS ICIAN HOLDS A DISPEN SING 24
551	551	PERMIT FROM THE STATE BOARD OF PHYSICIANS AND WISHES TO DISPENSE THE 25
552	552	MEDICATION, DISPENSE TO THE QUAL IFIED INDIVIDUAL: 26
553	553
554	554	1. THE PRESCRIBED MEDICA TION FOR AID IN DYIN G; 27
555	555	AND 28
556	556
557	557	2. ANY ANCILLARY MEDICAT IONS NEEDED TO MINIM IZE 29
558	558	THE QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL’S DISCOMFORT ; OR 30
559	559
560	560	(II) IF THE ATTENDING PHYS ICIAN DOES NOT HOLD A 31 SENATE BILL 926 13
561	561
562	562
563	563	DISPENSING PERMIT OR DOES NOT WISH TO DIS PENSE THE MEDICATION FOR AID IN 1
564	564	DYING, AND THE QUALIFIED IN DIVIDUAL REQUESTS AN D PROVIDES WRITTEN 2
565	565	CONSENT FOR THE MEDI CATION FOR AID IN DY ING TO BE DISPENSED BY A 3
566	566	PHARMACIST: 4
567	567
568	568	1. CONTACT A PHARMACIST ; 5
569	569
570	570	2. INFORM THE PHARMACIST OF THE PRESCRIPTION 6
571	571	FOR MEDICATION FOR A ID IN DYING; AND 7
572	572
573	573	3. SUBMIT THE PRESCRIPTI ON FOR MEDICATION FO R 8
574	574	AID IN DYING TO THE PHARMACIST BY ANY ME ANS AUTHORIZED BY LA W. 9
575	575
576	576	(B) (1) A PHARMACIST WHO HAS B EEN CONTACTED AND IN FORMED BY AN 10
577	577	ATTENDING PHYSICIAN AND TO WHOM AN ATTEN DING PHYSICIAN HAS S UBMITTED A 11
578	578	PRESCRIPTION FOR MED ICATION FOR AID IN D YING IN ACCORDANCE W ITH THE 12
579	579	REQUIREMENTS OF SUBS ECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION MAY DISPENSE THE 13
580	580	MEDICATION FOR AID I N DYING AND ANY ANCI LLARY MEDICATION ONL Y TO THE 14
581	581	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL , THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN, OR AN EXPRESSLY IDEN TIFIED 15
582	582	AGENT OF THE QUALIFI ED INDIVIDUAL. 16
583	583
584	584	(2) IF A PHARMACIST WHO H AS BEEN CONTACTED UN DER 17
585	585	SUBSECTION (A)(9)(II) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT WISH TO OR IS UNABLE TO 18
586	586	DISPENSE THE MEDICAT ION FOR AID IN DYING OR ANY ANCILLARY MED ICATION, 19
587	587	THE PHARMACIST SHALL NOTIFY THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL, THE ATTENDING 20
588	588	PHYSICIAN, AND ANY EXPRESSLY ID ENTIFIED AGENT OF TH E QUALIFIED 21
589	589	INDIVIDUAL THAT THE PHARMACIST DOES NOT WISH TO OR IS UNABLE TO DISPENS E 22
590	590	THE MEDICATION . 23
591	591
592	592	(C) IF A QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL SELF–ADMINISTERS MEDICATI ON FOR AID 24
593	593	IN DYING AND DIES , THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN MAY SIGN THE QUA LIFIED 25
594	594	INDIVIDUAL’S DEATH CERTIFICATE . 26
595	595
596	596	5–6A–08. 27
597	597
598	598	(A) WITH RESPECT TO A REQ UEST BY A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL FOR AID I N 28
599	599	DYING, THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN SHALL ENSURE THA T THE MEDICAL RECORD OF 29
600	600	THE QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL DOCUMENTS OR CO NTAINS: 30
601	601
602	602	(1) THE BASIS FOR DETERMI NING THAT THE QUALIF IED INDIVIDUAL 31
603	603	IS AN ADULT; 32
604	604
605	605	(2) ALL ORAL AND WRITTEN REQUESTS BY THE QUAL IFIED 33
606	606	INDIVIDUAL FOR MEDIC ATION FOR AID IN DYI NG; 34 14 SENATE BILL 926
607	607
608	608
609	609
610	610	(3) THE ATTENDING PHYSICI AN’S: 1
611	611
612	612	(I) DIAGNOSIS OF THE QUAL IFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S TERMINAL 2
613	613	ILLNESS AND PROGNOSI S; AND 3
614	614
615	615	(II) DETERMINATION THAT TH E QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL HAS 4
616	616	THE CAPACITY TO MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS , HAS MADE AN INFORMED DECISION, 5
617	617	AND HAS VOLUNTARILY REQUESTED AID IN DYI NG; 6
618	618
619	619	(4) DOCUMENTATION THAT TH E CONSULTING PHYSICI AN HAS 7
620	620	FULFILLED THE CONSUL TING PHYSICIAN ’S DUTIES UNDER § 5–6A–05 OF THIS 8
621	621	SUBTITLE; 9
622	622
623	623	(5) A REPORT OF THE OUTCOM E OF AND DETERMINATI ONS MADE 10
624	624	DURING THE MENTAL HE ALTH PROFESSIONAL AS SESSMENT IF: 11
625	625
626	626	(I) THE QUALIFIED INDIVID UAL WAS REFERRED FOR A MENTAL 12
627	627	HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT IN ACCORD ANCE WITH § 5–6A–06 OF THIS 13
628	628	SUBTITLE; AND 14
629	629
630	630	(II) THE MENTAL HEALTH PRO FESSIONAL ASSESSMENT WAS 15
631	631	PROVIDED; 16
632	632
633	633	(6) DOCUMENTATION OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN ’S OFFER TO 17
634	634	THE QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL TO RESCIND THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S REQUEST 18
635	635	FOR MEDICATION FOR A ID IN DYING AT THE T IME THE ATTENDING PH YSICIAN 19
636	636	WROTE THE PRESCRIPTI ON FOR THE MEDICATIO N FOR THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL; 20
637	637	AND 21
638	638
639	639	(7) A STATEMENT BY THE ATT ENDING PHY SICIAN: 22
640	640
641	641	(I) INDICATING THAT ALL R EQUIREMENTS FOR AID IN DYING 23
642	642	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE HAVE BEEN MET ; AND 24
643	643
644	644	(II) SPECIFYING THE STEPS TAKEN TO CARRY OUT T HE 25
645	645	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING, INCLUDING THE MEDICA TION 26
646	646	PRESCRIBED FOR AID I N DYING. 27
647	647
648	648	(B) THE ATTENDING PHYSICI AN SHALL SUBMIT TO T HE DEPARTMENT ANY 28
649	649	INFORMATION REGARDIN G IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SUBTITLE REQUIR ED BY 29
650	650	REGULATIONS ADOPTED UNDER § 5–6A–09(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 30
651	651
652	652	5–6A–09. 31 SENATE BILL 926 15
653	653
654	654
655	655
656	656	(A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO FAC ILITATE THE 1
657	657	COLLECTION OF INFORM ATION UNDER § 5–6A–08(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 2
658	658
659	659	(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROD UCE AND MAKE AVAILAB LE TO THE 3
660	660	PUBLIC AN ANNUAL STA TISTICAL REPORT OF I NFORMATION COLLECTED UNDER 4
661	661	SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 5
662	662
663	663	(C) RECORDS OR INFORMATION COLLECTE D OR MAINTAINED UNDE R THIS 6
664	664	SUBTITLE ARE NOT SUB JECT TO SUBPOENA OR DISCOVERY AND MAY NO T BE 7
665	665	INTRODUCED INTO EVID ENCE IN ANY JUDICIAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE PR OCEEDING, 8
666	666	EXCEPT TO RESOLVE MA TTERS CONCERNING COM PLIANCE WITH THIS SU BTITLE OR 9
667	667	AS OTHERWISE SPECIFICAL LY PROVIDED BY LAW . 10
668	668
669	669	5–6A–10. 11
670	670
671	671	A PERSON THAT , AFTER A QUALIFIED IN DIVIDUAL’S DEATH, IS IN POSSESSION 12
672	672	OF MEDICATION PRESCR IBED FOR AID IN DYIN G THAT HAS NOT BEEN 13
673	673	SELF–ADMINISTERED SHALL D ISPOSE OF THE MEDICA TION IN A LAWFUL MAN NER. 14
674	674
675	675	5–6A–11. 15
676	676
677	677	(A) FOR ALL LEGAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS , RECORD–KEEPING 16
678	678	PURPOSES, AND OTHER PURPOSES G OVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE, 17
679	679	WHETHER CONTRACTUAL , CIVIL, CRIMINAL, OR OTHERWISE , THE DEATH OF A 18
680	680	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL BY REASON OF THE SEL F–ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION 19
681	681	PRESCRIBED UNDER THI S SUBTITLE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A DEATH FROM 20
682	682	NATURAL CAUSES , SPECIFICALLY AS A RE SULT OF THE TERMINAL ILLNESS FROM 21
683	683	WHICH THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL SUFFERED . 22
684	684
685	685	(B) A PROVISION IN A CONTR ACT OR ANY OTHER LEG AL INSTRUMENT TH AT 23
686	686	IS CONTRARY TO SUBSE CTION (A) OF THIS SECTION IS V OID. 24
687	687
688	688	(C) SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO 25
689	689	PROHIBIT THE PROSECU TION OF A PERSON FOR MURDER OR ATTEMPTED MURDER 26
690	690	IF THE PERSON , WITH THE INTENT OR E FFECT OF CAUSING THE INDIVIDUAL’S 27
691	691	DEATH: 28
692	692
693	693	(1) WILLFULLY ALTERS OR F ORGES A REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING; 29
694	694
695	695	(2) CONCEALS OR DESTROYS A RESCISSION OF A RE QUEST FOR AID IN 30
696	696	DYING; 31
697	697
698	698	(3) COERCES OR EXERTS UND UE INFLUENCE ON AN I NDIVIDUAL TO 32 16 SENATE BILL 926
699	699
700	700
701	701	COMPLETE A REQUEST F OR AID IN DYING; OR 1
702	702
703	703	(4) COERCES OR EXERTS UNDUE INFL UENCE ON AN INDIVIDU AL TO 2
704	704	DESTROY A RESCISSION OF A REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING. 3
705	705
706	706	(D) (1) THIS SUBTITLE DOES NO T AUTHORIZE A LICENS ED PHYSICIAN OR 4
707	707	ANY OTHER PERSON TO END AN INDIVIDUAL ’S LIFE BY LETHAL INJ ECTION, MERCY 5
708	708	KILLING, OR ACTIVE EUTHANASIA. 6
709	709
710	710	(2) ACTIONS TAKEN IN ACCO RDANCE WITH THIS SUB TITLE DO NOT, 7
711	711	FOR ANY PURPOSE , CONSTITUTE SUICIDE , ASSISTED SUICIDE , MERCY KILLING , OR 8
712	712	HOMICIDE. 9
713	713
714	714	5–6A–12. 10
715	715
716	716	(A) A PROVISION IN A STATE OR FEDERAL INSURANCE POLICY, AN ANNUITY, 11
717	717	A CONTRACT, OR ANY OTHER AGREEME NT, ISSUED OR MADE ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 12
718	718	1, 2025, IS NOT VALID TO THE EXTENT THAT THE PROV ISION WOULD ATTACH 13
719	719	CONSEQUENCES TO OR O THERWISE RESTRICT OR INFLUENCE AN INDIVID UAL’S 14
720	720	DECISION TO MAKE OR RESCIND A REQUEST FOR AID IN D YING UNDER THIS 15
721	721	SUBTITLE. 16
722	722
723	723	(B) AN OBLIGATION UNDER A CONTRACT EXISTING ON OCTOBER 1, 2025, 17
724	724	MAY NOT BE CONDITION ED ON OR AFFECTED BY THE MAKING OR RESCIN DING OF A 18
725	725	REQUEST FOR AID IN D YING UNDER THIS SUBT ITLE. 19
726	726
727	727	(C) A QUALIFIED INDIVIDU AL’S ACT OF SELF–ADMINISTERING MEDICA TION 20
728	728	FOR AID IN DYING MAY NOT HAVE AN EFFECT U NDER A LIFE INSURANC E POLICY, A 21
729	729	HEALTH INSURANCE POL ICY OR CONTRACT , OR AN ANNUITY CONTRA CT THAT 22
730	730	DIFFERS FROM THE EFF ECT UNDER THE POLICY OR CONTRACT OF THE Q UALIFIED 23
731	731	INDIVIDUAL’S DEATH FROM NATURAL CAUSES. 24
732	732
733	733	5–6A–13. 25
734	734
735	735	(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN § 5–6A–14(C) OF THIS SUBTITLE: 26
736	736
737	737	(1) A PERSON MAY NOT BE SU BJECT TO CIVIL OR CR IMINAL LIABILITY 27
738	738	OR PROFESSIONAL DISC IPLINARY ACTION FOR PARTICIPATING IN GOO D FAITH 28
739	739	COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE, INCLUDING BEING PRES ENT WHEN A QUALIFIED 29
740	740	INDIVIDUAL SELF –ADMINISTERS MEDICATI ON PRESCRIBED FOR AI D IN DYING; AND 30
741	741
742	742	(2) A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR A HEALTH OCCUPATI ONS BOARD 31
743	743	MAY NOT SUBJECT A PE RSON TO CENSURE , DISCIPLINE, SUSPENSION, LOSS OF 32
744	744	LICENSE, LOSS OF PRIVILEGES , LOSS OF MEMBERSHIP , OR ANY OTHER PENALTY FOR 33 SENATE BILL 926 17
745	745
746	746
747	747	PARTICIPATING OR REF USING TO PARTICIPATE IN GOOD FAITH COMPLIANCE WIT H 1
748	748	THIS SUBTITLE. 2
749	749
750	750	(B) AN INDIVIDUAL’S REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING OR AN ATTENDIN G 3
751	751	PHYSICIAN’S PRESCRIPTION OF MEDICATION MADE IN G OOD FAITH COMPLIANCE 4
752	752	WITH THIS SUBTITLE D OES NOT: 5
753	753
754	754	(1) CONSTITUTE NEGLECT FO R ANY PURPOSE OF LAW ; OR 6
755	755
756	756	(2) PROVIDE THE SOLE BASI S FOR THE APPOINTMEN T OF A 7
757	757	GUARDIAN OR CONSERVA TOR. 8
758	758
759	759	5–6A–14. 9
760	760
761	761	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WO RDS HAVE THE MEANING S 10
762	762	INDICATED. 11
763	763
764	764	(2) “NOTIFY” MEANS TO PROVIDE A S EPARATE STATEMENT IN 12
765	765	WRITING TO A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SPECIF ICALLY INFORMING THE HEALTH 13
766	766	CARE PROVIDER , BEFORE THE HEALTH CA RE PROVIDER’S PARTICIPATION IN A ID IN 14
767	767	DYING, OF A HEALTH CARE F ACILITY’S POLICY ABOUT PARTI CIPATION IN AID IN 15
768	768	DYING. 16
769	769
770	770	(3) (I) “PARTICIPATE IN AID IN DYING” MEANS TO PERFORM THE 17
771	771	DUTIES OF AN ATTENDI NG PHYSICIAN, A CONSULTING PHYSICI AN, OR A LICENSED 18
772	772	MENTAL HEALTH PROFES SIONAL UNDER THIS SU BTITLE. 19
773	773
774	774	(II) “PARTICIPATE IN AID IN DYING” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 20
775	775
776	776	1. MAKING AN INITIAL DET ERMINATION THAT AN 21
777	777	INDIVIDUAL HAS A TER MINAL ILLNESS AND IN FORMING THE INDIVIDU AL OF THE 22
778	778	MEDICAL PROGNOSIS ; 23
779	779
780	780	2. PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SUBTITLE TO 24
781	781	AN INDIVIDUAL ON THE REQUEST OF THE INDIVIDUAL ; OR 25
782	782
783	783	3. PROVIDING AN INDIVIDU AL, ON REQUEST OF THE 26
784	784	INDIVIDUAL, WITH A REFERRAL TO A NOTHER PHYSICIAN . 27
785	785
786	786	(B) (1) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY MAY PROHIBIT A HEALT H CARE 28
787	787	PROVIDER FROM PARTIC IPATING IN AID IN DY ING UNDER THIS SUBTI TLE ON THE 29
788	788	PREMISES OF THE PROHIB ITING HEALTH CARE FA CILITY IF THE PROHIB ITING 30
789	789	HEALTH CARE FACILITY HAS NOTIFIED ALL HEA LTH CARE PROVIDERS W ITH 31
790	790	PRIVILEGES TO PRACTI CE ON THE PREMISES O F THE PROHIBITING HE ALTH CARE 32 18 SENATE BILL 926
791	791
792	792
793	793	FACILITY’S POLICY REGARDING P ARTICIPATING IN AID IN DYING. 1
794	794
795	795	(2) THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT A HEALT H CARE 2
796	796	PROVIDER FROM PROVID ING HEALTH CARE SERV ICES THAT DO NOT CON STITUTE 3
797	797	PARTICIPATING IN AID IN DYING UNDER THIS SUBTITLE TO AN INDIV IDUAL. 4
798	798
799	799	(C) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY MAY SUBJECT A HEALTH CARE PROVID ER TO 5
800	800	THE FOLLOWING SANCTI ONS IF THE SANCTIONI NG HEALTH CARE FACIL ITY HAS 6
801	801	NOTIFIED THE SANCTIO NED HEALTH CARE PROV IDER, BEFORE THE SANCTIONE D 7
802	802	HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PARTICIPATES IN AID IN DYING, THAT THE SANCTIONING 8
803	803	HEALTH CARE FACILITY PROHIBITS PARTICIPAT ION IN AID IN DYING: 9
804	804
805	805	(1) LOSS OF PRIVILEGES , LOSS OF MEMBERSHIP , OR OTHER 10
806	806	SANCTIONS PROVIDED U NDER THE MEDICAL STA FF BYLAWS, POLICIES, AND 11
807	807	PROCEDURES OF THE SA NCTIONING HEALTH CAR E FACILITY IF THE SA NCTIONED 12
808	808	HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IS A MEMBER OF THE S ANCTIONING HEALTH CARE 13
809	809	FACILITY’S MEDICAL STAFF AND PARTICIPATES IN AID IN DYING WHILE ON TH E 14
810	810	PREMISES OF THE SANC TIONING HEALTH CARE FACILITY; 15
811	811
812	812	(2) TERMINATION OF A LEAS E OR ANY OTHER PROPE RTY CONTRACT 16
813	813	OR OTHER NONMONETARY REMEDIES PROVIDED BY A LEASE OR OTHER PROPERTY 17
814	814	CONTRACT, NOT INCLUDING LOSS O R RESTRICTION OF MED ICAL STAFF PRIVILEGE S 18
815	815	OR EXCLUSION FROM A PROVIDER PANEL , IF THE SANCTIONED HE ALTH CARE 19
816	816	PROVIDER PARTICIPATE S IN AID IN DYING WH ILE ON THE PREMISES OF THE 20
817	817	SANCTIONING HEALTH C ARE FACILITY OR ON PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED BY OR 21
818	818	UNDER THE DIRECT CON TROL OF THE SANCTION ING HEALTH CARE FACI LITY; OR 22
819	819
820	820	(3) TERMINATION OF A CONT RACT OR OTHER NONMON ETARY 23
821	821	REMEDIES PROVIDED BY A CONTRACT IF THE SA NCTIONED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER 24
822	822	PARTICIPATES IN AID IN DYING WHILE ACTING IN THE C OURSE AND SCOPE OF T HE 25
823	823	SANCTIONED HEALTH CA RE PROVIDER ’S CAPACITY AS AN EMP LOYEE OR 26
824	824	INDEPENDENT CONTRACT OR OF THE SANCTIONIN G HEALTH CARE FACILI TY. 27
825	825
826	826	(D) SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT: 28
827	827
828	828	(1) A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FROM PARTICIPATING IN AID IN 29
829	829	DYING: 30
830	830
831	831	(I) WHILE ACTING OUTSIDE THE COURSE AND SCOPE OF THE 31
832	832	HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ’S CAPACITY AS AN EMP LOYEE OR INDEPENDENT 32
833	833	CONTRACTOR OF THE SA NCTIONING HEALTH CAR E FACILITY; OR 33
834	834
835	835	(II) OFF THE PREMISES OF T HE SANCTIONING HEA LTH CARE 34
836	836	FACILITY OR OFF ANY PROPERTY THAT IS OWN ED BY OR UNDER THE D IRECT 35 SENATE BILL 926 19
837	837
838	838
839	839	CONTROL OF THE SANCT IONING HEALTH CARE F ACILITY; OR 1
840	840
841	841	(2) AN INDIVIDUAL FROM CO NTRACTING WITH THE I NDIVIDUAL’S 2
842	842	ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR CONSULTING PHYSIC IAN TO ACT OUTSIDE T HE COURSE 3
843	843	AND SCOPE OF THE ATT ENDING PHYSICIAN ’S OR CONSULTING PHYS ICIAN’S 4
844	844	CAPACITY AS AN EMPLO YEE OR INDEPENDENT C ONTRACTOR OF THE SAN CTIONING 5
845	845	HEALTH CARE FACILITY . 6
846	846
847	847	5–6A–15. 7
848	848
849	849	(A) (1) PARTICIPATION BY A HE ALTH CARE PROVIDER I N AID IN DYING 8
850	850	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE IS VOLUNTARY . 9
851	851
852	852	(2) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY MAY NOT REQUIRE THE PHYSICIANS ON 10
853	853	THE MEDICAL STAFF OF THE HEALTH CARE FACI LITY TO PARTICIPATE IN AID IN 11
854	854	DYING. 12
855	855
856	856	(B) IF AN INDIVIDUAL REQU ESTS OR INDICATES AN INTEREST IN AID IN 13
857	857	DYING AND THE ATTEND ING PHYSICIAN OF THE INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT WISH TO 14
858	858	PARTICIPATE IN AID I N DYING, THE ATTENDING PHYSIC IAN SHALL INFORM THE 15
859	859	INDIVIDUAL THAT THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN DOES NOT WISH TO PAR TICIPATE. 16
860	860
861	861	(C) ON REQUEST , AN ATTENDING PHYSICI AN EXPEDITIOUSLY SHA LL 17
862	862	TRANSFER A COPY OF A N INDIVIDUAL’S RELEVANT MEDICAL R ECORDS TO ANOTHER 18
863	863	ATTENDING PHYSICIAN IF: 19
864	864
865	865	(1) THE INDIVIDUAL REQUES TS OR INDICATES AN I NTEREST IN AID IN 20
866	866	DYING; 21
867	867
868	868	(2) THE ORIGINAL ATTENDIN G PHYSICIAN IS UNABL E OR UNWILLING 22
869	869	TO PARTICIPATE IN AI D IN DYING FOR THE I NDIVIDUAL; AND 23
870	870
871	871	(3) THE INDIVIDUAL TRANSF ERS THE INDIVIDUAL ’S CARE TO 24
872	872	ANOTHER ATTENDING PH YSICIAN. 25
873	873
874	874	(D) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY MAY ADOPT WRITTEN PO LICIES PROHIBITING 26
875	875	A LICENSED PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATED WITH THE HEALTH CARE FACILITY FROM 27
876	876	PARTICIPATING IN AID IN DYING, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 5–6A–14 OF THIS 28
877	877	SUBTITLE. 29
878	878
879	879	5–6A–16. 30
880	880
881	881	(A) A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ACTING WITHIN THE SC OPE OF THE HEALTH 31
882	882	CARE PROVIDER’S LICENSE OR CERTIFICATION AND IN COMPLIANCE WI TH THIS 32 20 SENATE BILL 926
883	883
884	884
885	885	SUBTITLE SHALL BE DEEMED TO B E ACTING WITHIN THE ST ANDARD OF CARE OF TH E 1
886	886	PROVIDER’S LICENSE OR CERTIFICATION . 2
887	887
888	888	(B) THIS SUBTITLE DOES NOT EXEMPT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FROM 3
889	889	MEETING THE MEDICAL STANDARDS OF CARE FO R AN INDIVIDUAL ’S MEDICAL 4
890	890	TREATMENT . 5
891	891
892	892	5–6A–17. 6
893	893
894	894	(A) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WILLFULLY ALTERS OR FORGES A WRITTEN 7
895	895	REQUEST MADE UNDER §§ 5–6A–02 AND 5–6A–03 OF THIS SUBTITLE OR CONCEALS 8
896	896	OR DESTROYS A RESCIS SION OF AN INDIVIDUA L’S WRITTEN REQUEST WI THOUT THE 9
897	897	AUTHORIZATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND WITH THE INTENT OR EFFECT OF CAUSING 10
898	898	THE INDIVIDUAL’S DEATH IS GUILTY OF A FELONY AND ON CONV ICTION IS SUBJECT 11
899	899	TO IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 10 YEARS OR A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $10,000 12
900	900	OR BOTH. 13
901	901
902	902	(B) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO COE RCES OR EXERTS UNDUE INFLUENCE ON AN 14
903	903	INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE A WRITTEN REQUEST UNDER §§ 5–6A–02 AND 5–6A–03 OF 15
904	904	THIS SUBTITLE FOR TH E PURPOSE OF ENDING THE INDIVIDUAL ’S LIFE OR TO 16
905	905	DESTROY A RESCISSION OF A WRITTEN REQUEST IS GUILTY OF A FELON Y AND ON 17
906	906	CONVICTION IS SUBJEC T TO IMPRISONMENT NO T EXCEEDING 10 YEARS OR A FINE 18
907	907	NOT EXCEEDING $10,000 OR BOTH. 19
908	908
909	909	(C) A SENTENCE IMPOSED UND ER THIS SECTION MAY BE IMPOSED 20
910	910	SEPARATE FROM AND CO NSECUTIVE TO OR CONC URRENT WITH A SENTEN CE FOR 21
911	911	ANY CRIME BASED ON T HE ACT ESTABLISHING THE VIOLATION OF THI S SECTION. 22
912	912
913	913	(D) THIS SUBTITLE DOES NO T LIMIT ANY LIA BILITY FOR CIVIL DAM AGES 23
914	914	RESULTING FROM ANY O THER NEGLIGENT CONDU CT OR INTENTIONAL MI SCONDUCT 24
915	915	BY ANY PERSON . 25
916	916
917	917	Article – Insurance 26
918	918
919	919	27–208.1. 27
920	920
921	921	(A) FOR ALL LEGAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER PURPOSES 28
922	922	GOVERNED BY THIS ART ICLE, THE DEATH OF AN INDI VIDUAL BY REASON OF THE 29
923	923	SELF–ADMINISTRATION OF ME DICATION PRESCRIBED UNDER TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 30
924	924	6A OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE SHALL BE DEEM ED TO BE A DEATH FRO M 31
925	925	NATURAL CAUSES , SPECIFICALLY AS A RE SULT OF THE TERMINAL ILLNESS FROM 32
926	926	WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL SUFFERED. 33
927	927
928	928	(B) ACTIONS TAKEN IN ACCO RDANCE WITH TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 6A OF THE 34 SENATE BILL 926 21
929	929
930	930
931	931	HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE DO NOT , FOR ANY PURPOSE , CONSTITUTE SUICIDE , 1
932	932	ASSISTED SUICIDE , MERCY KILLING , OR HOMICIDE. 2
933	933
934	934	(C) A PROVISION IN AN INSU RANCE POLICY OR CONT RACT OR AN ANNUITY 3
935	935	CONTRACT ISSUED OR DELIVE RED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2025, IS NOT VALID TO 4
936	936	THE EXTENT THAT THE PROVISION WOULD ATTA CH CONSEQUENCES TO O R 5
937	937	OTHERWISE RESTRICT O R INFLUENCE AN INDIV IDUAL’S DECISION TO MAKE O R 6
938	938	RESCIND A REQUEST FO R AID IN DYING UNDER TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 6A OF THE 7
939	939	HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 8
940	940
941	941	(D) AN OBLIGATION UNDER A N INSURANCE POLICY O R CONTRACT OR AN 9
942	942	ANNUITY CONTRACT EXI STING ON OCTOBER 1, 2025, MAY NOT BE CONDITION ED ON 10
943	943	OR AFFECTED BY THE M AKING OR RESCINDING OF A REQUEST FOR AID IN DYING 11
944	944	UNDER TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 6A OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 12
945	945
946	946	(E) THE ACT BY AN INSURED OF SELF–ADMINISTERING MEDICA TION FOR 13
947	947	AID IN DYING UNDER TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 6A OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE 14
948	948	MAY NOT HAVE AN EFFE CT UNDER A LIFE INSU RANCE POLICY, A HEALTH INSURANC E 15
949	949	POLICY OR CONTRACT , OR AN ANNUITY CONTRA CT THAT DIFFERS FROM THE 16
950	950	EFFECT UNDER THE POL ICY OR CONTRACT OF T HE INSURED’S OR ANNUITANT ’S 17
951	951	DEATH FROM NATURAL C AUSES. 18
952	952
953	953	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, if any provision of this Act or 19
954	954	the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid for any reason in a 20
955	955	court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or any other 21
956	956	application of this Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, 22
957	957	and for this purpose the provisions of this Act are declared severable. 23
958	958
959	959	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 24
960	960	October 1, 2025. 25