Michigan Senate Bill SB0681

Michigan 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 11/9/23
• Refer: 11/9/23

Caption

Health: death; physician-assisted suicide; allow under certain circumstances. Creates new act & repeals sec. 329a of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.329a) & repeals 1992 PA 270 (MCL 752.1021 - 752.1027). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0680'23, SB 0678'23

Impact

The bill sets forth specific procedures that healthcare providers must follow, including mandatory oral and written requests from the patient, as well as documentation of the patient's mental state and diagnosis. It mandates that healthcare providers confirm the patient's capacity to make the request and ensures the involvement of consulting physicians and mental health professionals when necessary. This act would repeal previous laws that criminalized participation in assisted dying, thereby aligning state laws with evolving perspectives on end-of-life options and patient rights.

Summary

Senate Bill 681, also known as the 'Death with Dignity Act,' proposes to regulate physician assistance in providing life-ending medication to patients who are suffering from terminal diseases. The bill outlines the criteria and safeguards necessary for a patient to be deemed qualified and capable to make this request, emphasizing the importance of informed decision-making and the confirmation of diagnoses by multiple medical professionals. It aims to ensure that patients who wish to pursue this option do so in a controlled and legally sound manner.

Contention

Notably, the proposed legislation includes provisions that protect physicians from legal liability when acting in good faith to assist patients under this law. Furthermore, it clarifies that participation in the act cannot result in disciplinary actions against healthcare providers. However, the bill does not condone active euthanasia or assisted suicide in forms other than those articulated within the act. Proponents argue that this law enhances patient autonomy in end-of-life care, while opponents raise ethical concerns regarding the implications of such practices on societal values surrounding life and death.