Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HB0598 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2		-	SENATE BILL 640
3		-	By Campbell
	2	+	<BillNo> <Sponsor>
4	3
5	4		HOUSE BILL 598
6	5		By Freeman
7	6
8	7
9	8		HB0598
10	9		000775
11	10		- 1 -
12	11
13	12		AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 32;
14	13		Title 39; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to
15	14		vulnerable persons.
16	15
17	16		BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
18	17		SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 11, is amended by adding
19	18		the following language as a new part:
20	19		68-11-2401. Part definitions.
21	20		As used in this part:
22	21		(1) ''Adult'' means an individual who is eighteen (18) years of age or
23	22		older;
24	23		(2) ''Attending physician'' means the physician who has primary
25	24		responsibility for the care of the patient and treatment of the patient's terminal
26	25		disease;
27	26		(3) ''Capable'' means that in the opinion of a court or in the opinion of the
28	27		patient's attending physician, consulting physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist, a
29	28		patient has the ability to make and communicate healthcare decisions to
30	29		healthcare providers, including communication through persons familiar with the
31	30		patient's manner of communicating if those persons are available;
32	31		(4) ''Consulting physician'' means a physician who is qualified by
33	32		specialty or experience to make a professional diagnosis and prognosis
34	33		regarding the patient's disease;
35	34		(5) ''Counseling'' means one (1) or more consultations as necessary
36	35		between a psychiatrist licensed pursuant to title 63, chapter 6, or psychologist
37	36
38	37
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41	40		licensed pursuant to title 63, chapter 11, and a patient for the purpose of
42	41		determining that the patient is capable and not suffering from a psychiatric or
43	42		psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgment;
44	43		(6) ''Department'' means the department of health;
45	44		(7) ''Healthcare facility'' means any institution, place, or building providing
46	45		healthcare services that is required to be licensed under this chapter;
47	46		(8) ''Healthcare provider'' means a person licensed, certified, or otherwise
48	47		authorized or permitted by the law of this state to administer health care or
49	48		dispense medication in the ordinary course of business or practice of a
50	49		profession, and includes a healthcare facility;
51	50		(9) ''Informed decision'' means a decision by a qualified patient to request
52	51		and obtain a prescription to end the patient's life in a humane and dignified
53	52		manner that is based on an appreciation of the relevant facts and after being fully
54	53		informed by the attending physician of:
55	54		(A) The patient's medical diagnosis;
56	55		(B) The patient's prognosis;
57	56		(C) The potential risks associated with taking the medication to be
58	57		prescribed;
59	58		(D) The probable result of taking the medication to be prescribed;
60	59		and
61	60		(E) The feasible alternatives, including comfort care, hospice
62	61		care, and pain control;
63	62		(10) ''Medically confirmed'' means the medical opinion of the attending
64	63		physician has been confirmed by a consulting physician who has examined the
65	64		patient and the patient's relevant medical records;
66	65
67	66
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69	68
70	69		(11) ''Patient'' means a person who is under the care of a physician;
71	70		(12) ''Physician'' means a doctor of medicine licensed to practice
72	71		medicine by the board of medical examiners pursuant to title 63, chapter 6, or
73	72		doctor of osteopathy licensed to practice by the board of osteopathic examination
74	73		pursuant to title 63, chapter 9;
75	74		(13) ''Qualified patient'' means a capable adult who is a resident of this
76	75		state and has satisfied the requirements of this part in order to obtain a
77	76		prescription for medication to end the adult's life in a humane and dignified
78	77		manner; and
79	78		(14) ''Terminal disease'' means an incurable and irreversible disease that
80	79		has been medically confirmed and will, within reasonable medical judgment,
81	80		produce death within six (6) months.
82	81		68-11-2402. Initiation of written request for medication.
83	82		(a) An adult who is capable, is a resident of this state, and has been determined
84	83		by an attending physician and a consulting physician to be suffering from a terminal
85	84		disease, and who has voluntarily expressed the wish to die, may make a written request
86	85		for medication for the purpose of ending the adult's life in a humane and dignified
87	86		manner in accordance with this part.
88	87		(b) A person does not qualify under this part solely because of age or disability.
89	88		68-11-2403. Form of written request.
90	89		(a) A valid request for medication under this part must be substantially in the
91	90		form described in § 68-11-2421, signed and dated by the patient and witnessed by at
92	91		least two (2) individuals who, in the presence of the patient, attest that to the best of their
93	92		knowledge and belief the patient is capable, acting voluntarily, and is not being coerced
94	93		to sign the request.
95	94
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99	98		(b) One (1) of the witnesses must be a person who is not:
100	99		(1) A relative of the patient by blood, marriage, or adoption;
101	100		(2) A person who at the time the request is signed would be entitled to
102	101		any portion of the estate of the qualified patient upon death under a will, if known,
103	102		or by operation of law; or
104	103		(3) An owner, operator, or employee of a healthcare facility where the
105	104		qualified patient is receiving medical treatment or is a resident.
106	105		(c) The patient's attending physician at the time the request is signed must not
107	106		be a witness.
108	107		(d) If the patient is a patient in a long-term care facility at the time the written
109	108		request is made, then one (1) of the witnesses must be an individual designated by the
110	109		facility. The department shall promulgate rules governing the qualifications of an
111	110		individual designated as a witness by a long-term care facility pursuant to this subsection
112	111		(d). Rules must be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative
113	112		Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
114	113		68-11-2404. Attending physician responsibilities.
115	114		(a) The attending physician shall:
116	115		(1) Make the initial determination of whether a patient has a terminal
117	116		disease, is capable, and has made the request voluntarily;
118	117		(2) Ensure that the patient is making an informed decision by informing
119	118		the patient of:
120	119		(A) The patient's medical diagnosis;
121	120		(B) The patient's prognosis;
122	121		(C) The potential risks associated with taking the medication to be
123	122		prescribed;
124	123
125	124
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128	127		(D) The probable result of taking the medication to be prescribed;
129	128		and
130	129		(E) The feasible alternatives, including comfort care, hospice
131	130		care, and pain control;
132	131		(3) Refer the patient to a consulting physician for medical confirmation of
133	132		the diagnosis and for a determination that the patient is capable and acting
134	133		voluntarily;
135	134		(4) Refer the patient for counseling, if appropriate, pursuant to § 68-11-
136	135		2406;
137	136		(5) Recommend that the patient notify next of kin;
138	137		(6) Counsel the patient about the importance of having another person
139	138		present when the patient takes the medication prescribed pursuant to this part
140	139		and of not taking the medication in a public place;
141	140		(7) Inform the patient that the patient has an opportunity to rescind the
142	141		request at any time and in any manner, and offer the patient an opportunity to
143	142		rescind at the time the patient makes the patient's second oral request pursuant
144	143		to § 68-11-2409;
145	144		(8) Verify, immediately prior to writing the prescription for medication
146	145		under this part, that the patient is making an informed decision;
147	146		(9) Fulfill the medical record documentation requirements of § 68-11-
148	147		2412;
149	148		(10) Ensure that all appropriate steps are carried out in accordance with
150	149		this part prior to writing a prescription for medication to enable a qualified patient
151	150		to end the patient's life in a humane and dignified manner; and
152	151		(11)
153	152
154	153
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157	156		(A) Dispense medications directly, including ancillary medications
158	157		intended to facilitate the desired effect to minimize the patient's
159	158		discomfort. The attending physician must be registered as a dispensing
160	159		physician with the board of pharmacy and the board of medical examiners
161	160		or the board of osteopathic examination, have a current drug enforcement
162	161		administration certificate, and comply with any applicable rule; or
163	162		(B) With the patient's written consent:
164	163		(i) Contact a pharmacist and inform the pharmacist of the
165	164		prescription; and
166	165		(ii) Deliver the written prescription personally or by mail to
167	166		the pharmacist, who will dispense the medications to the patient,
168	167		the attending physician, or an expressly identified agent of the
169	168		patient.
170	169		(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the attending physician may sign the
171	170		patient's death certificate.
172	171		68-11-2405. Consulting physician confirmation.
173	172		Before a patient is qualified under this part, a consulting physician shall examine
174	173		the patient and the patient's relevant medical records. The consulting physician shall
175	174		confirm, in writing, the attending physician's diagnosis that the patient is suffering from a
176	175		terminal disease and verify that the patient is capable, is acting voluntarily, and has
177	176		made an informed decision.
178	177		68-11-2406. Counseling referral.
179	178		If, in the opinion of the attending physician or the consulting physician, a patient
180	179		may be suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder or depression causing
181	180		impaired judgment, either physician must refer the patient for counseling. Medication to
182	181
183	182
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186	185		end a patient's life in a humane and dignified manner must not be prescribed until the
187	186		person performing the counseling determines that the patient is not suffering from a
188	187		psychiatric or psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgment.
189	188		68-11-2407. Informed decision.
190	189		A person must not receive a prescription for medication to end the person's life in
191	190		a humane and dignified manner unless the person has made an informed decision.
192	191		Immediately prior to writing a prescription for medication under this part, the attending
193	192		physician shall verify that the patient is making an informed decision.
194	193		68-11-2408. Family notification.
195	194		The attending physician shall recommend that the patient notify the next of kin of
196	195		the patient's request for medication pursuant to this part. A patient who declines or is
197	196		unable to notify next of kin must not have the patient's request denied for that reason.
198	197		68-11-2409. Written and oral requests.
199	198		(a) In order for a qualified patient to receive a prescription for medication to end
200	199		the patient's life in a humane and dignified manner, a qualified patient must:
201	200		(1) Make an initial oral request to the patient's attending physician;
202	201		(2) Make a written request to the patient's attending physician; and
203	202		(3) Make a second oral request to the patient's attending physician no
204	203		less than fifteen (15) days after making the initial oral request.
205	204		(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), if the qualified patient's attending physician
206	205		has medically confirmed that the qualified patient will, within reasonable medical
207	206		judgment, die within fifteen (15) days after making the initial oral request under this
208	207		section, then the qualified patient may reiterate the oral request to the attending
209	208		physician at any time after making the initial oral request.
210	209
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214	213		(c) At the time the qualified patient makes the second oral request, the attending
215	214		physician shall offer the patient an opportunity to rescind the request.
216	215		68-11-2410. Right to rescind request.
217	216		A patient may rescind a request at any time and in any manner without regard to
218	217		the patient's mental state. A prescription for medication under this part must not be
219	218		written without the attending physician offering the qualified patient an opportunity to
220	219		rescind the request.
221	220		68-11-2411. Waiting periods.
222	221		(a) No less than fifteen (15) days shall elapse between the patient's initial oral
223	222		request pursuant to § 68-11-2409(a)(1) and the writing of a prescription under this part.
224	223		(b) No less than forty-eight (48) hours shall elapse between the patient's written
225	224		request pursuant to § 68-11-2409(a)(2) and the writing of a prescription under this part.
226	225		(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), if the qualified patient's attending
227	226		physician has medically confirmed that the qualified patient will, within reasonable
228	227		medical judgment, die before the expiration of at least one (1) of the waiting periods
229	228		described in subsections (a) and (b), then the prescription for medication under this part
230	229		may be written at any time following the latter of the qualified patient's written request or
231	230		second oral request under § 68-11-2409.
232	231		68-11-2412. Medical record documentation requirements.
233	232		The following must be documented or filed in the patient's medical record:
234	233		(1) All oral requests by a patient for medication to end the patient's life in
235	234		a humane and dignified manner;
236	235		(2) All written requests by a patient for medication to end the patient's life
237	236		in a humane and dignified manner;
238	237
239	238
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242	241		(3) The attending physician's diagnosis, prognosis, and determination
243	242		that the patient is capable, acting voluntarily, and has made an informed
244	243		decision;
245	244		(4) The consulting physician's diagnosis, prognosis, and verification that
246	245		the patient is capable, acting voluntarily, and has made an informed decision;
247	246		(5) A report of the outcome and determinations made during counseling,
248	247		if performed;
249	248		(6) Any medically confirmed certification of the imminence of the patient's
250	249		death;
251	250		(7) The attending physician's offer to the patient to rescind the patient's
252	251		request at the time of the patient's second oral request pursuant to § 68-11-2409;
253	252		and
254	253		(8) A note by the attending physician indicating that all requirements of
255	254		this part have been met and indicating the steps taken to carry out the request,
256	255		including a notation of the medication prescribed.
257	256		68-11-2413. Reporting requirements.
258	257		(a) The department shall:
259	258		(1) Annually review a sample of records maintained pursuant to this part;
260	259		and
261	260		(2) Require a healthcare provider, upon dispensing medication pursuant
262	261		to this part, to file a copy of the dispensing record with the department.
263	262		(b) The department shall make rules to facilitate the collection of information
264	263		regarding compliance with this part. The information collected is not a public record for
265	264		the purposes of title 10, chapter 7, and must not be made available for inspection by the
266	265		public.
267	266
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271	270		(c) The department shall generate and make available to the public an annual
272	271		statistical report of information collected under subsection (a).
273	272		68-11-2414. Effect on construction of wills, contracts, and statutes.
274	273		(a) A provision in a contract, life insurance policy, will, or other agreement,
275	274		whether written or oral, to the extent the provision would affect whether a person may
276	275		make or rescind a request for medication to end the person's life in a humane and
277	276		dignified manner, is not valid.
278	277		(b) An obligation owing under any currently existing contract must not be
279	278		conditioned or affected by the making or rescinding of a request, by a person, for
280	279		medication to end the person's life in a humane and dignified manner.
281	280		(c) This section applies to contracts, policies, wills, or agreements entered into
282	281		or renewed on or after the effective date of this act.
283	282		68-11-2415. Insurance or annuity policies.
284	283		The sale, procurement, or issuance of any life, health, or accident insurance or
285	284		annuity policy, or the rate charged for any policy, is not conditioned upon or affected by
286	285		the making or rescinding of a request, by a person, for medication to end the person's
287	286		life in a humane and dignified manner. A qualified patient's act of ingesting medication
288	287		to end the patient's life in a humane and dignified manner does not have an effect upon
289	288		a life, health, or accident insurance or annuity policy.
290	289		68-11-2416. Authorized actions.
291	290		This part does not authorize a physician or another person to end a patient's life
292	291		by lethal injection, mercy killing, or active euthanasia. Actions taken in accordance with
293	292		this part do not, for any purpose, constitute suicide, assisted suicide under § 39-13-216,
294	293		mercy killing, or criminal homicide under title 39, chapter 13, part 2.
295	294		68-11-2417. Immunity.
296	295
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300	299		(a) A person is not subject to civil or criminal liability or professional disciplinary
301	300		action for participating in good faith compliance with this part. This includes being
302	301		present when a qualified patient takes the prescribed medication to end the patient's life
303	302		in a humane and dignified manner.
304	303		(b) A professional organization or association, or healthcare provider, shall not
305	304		subject a person to censure, discipline, suspension, loss of license, loss of privileges,
306	305		loss of membership, or other penalty for participating or refusing to participate in good
307	306		faith compliance with this part.
308	307		(c) A request by a patient for, or provision by an attending physician of,
309	308		medication in good faith compliance with this part must not constitute neglect for any
310	309		purpose of law or provide the sole basis for the appointment of a guardian or
311	310		conservator.
312	311		(d) A healthcare provider is not under any duty, whether by contract, statute, or
313	312		another legal requirement, to participate in the provision to a qualified patient of
314	313		medication to end the patient's life in a humane and dignified manner. If a healthcare
315	314		provider is unable or unwilling to carry out a patient's request under this part, and the
316	315		patient transfers the patient's care to a new healthcare provider, then the prior
317	316		healthcare provider must transfer, upon request, a copy of the patient's relevant medical
318	317		records to the new healthcare provider.
319	318		(e)
320	319		(1) Notwithstanding another law, a healthcare provider may prohibit
321	320		another healthcare provider from participating in this part on the premises of the
322	321		prohibiting provider if the prohibiting provider has notified the healthcare provider
323	322		of the prohibiting provider's policy regarding participating in this part. This
324	323
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328	327		subdivision (e)(1) does not prohibit a healthcare provider from providing to a
329	328		patient healthcare services that do not constitute participation in this part.
330	329		(2) Notwithstanding subsections (a)-(d), a healthcare provider may
331	330		subject another healthcare provider to the following sanctions if the sanctioning
332	331		healthcare provider has notified the sanctioned provider prior to participation in
333	332		this part that the sanctioning provider prohibits participation in this part:
334	333		(A) Loss of privileges, loss of membership, or other sanctions
335	334		provided pursuant to the medical staff bylaws, policies, and procedures of
336	335		the sanctioning healthcare provider, if the sanctioned provider is a
337	336		member of the sanctioning provider's medical staff and participates in this
338	337		part while on the healthcare facility premises of the sanctioning
339	338		healthcare provider, but not including the private medical office of a
340	339		physician or other provider;
341	340		(B) Termination of lease or other property contract or other
342	341		nonmonetary remedies provided by lease contract, not including loss or
343	342		restriction of medical staff privileges or exclusion from a provider panel, if
344	343		the sanctioned provider participates in this part while on the premises of
345	344		the sanctioning healthcare provider or on property that is owned by or
346	345		under the direct control of the sanctioning healthcare provider; or
347	346		(C) Termination of contract or other nonmonetary remedies
348	347		provided by contract, if the sanctioned provider participates in this part
349	348		while acting in the course and scope of the sanctioned provider's capacity
350	349		as an employee or independent contractor of the sanctioning healthcare
351	350		provider. This subdivision (e)(2)(C) does not prevent:
352	351
353	352
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356	355		(i) A healthcare provider from participating in this part
357	356		while acting outside the course and scope of the provider's
358	357		capacity as an employee or independent contractor; or
359	358		(ii) A patient from contracting with the patient's attending
360	359		physician and consulting physician to act outside the course and
361	360		scope of the provider's capacity as an employee or independent
362	361		contractor of the sanctioning healthcare provider.
363	362		(3) A healthcare provider that imposes sanctions pursuant to subdivision
364	363		(e)(2) shall afford the sanctioned healthcare provider all due process and follow
365	364		all other procedures that are required of the sanctioning healthcare provider
366	365		under law or rule that are related to the imposition of sanctions on another
367	366		healthcare provider.
368	367		(4) For purposes of this subsection (e):
369	368		(A) ''Notify'' means a separate statement in writing to the
370	369		healthcare provider specifically informing the healthcare provider prior to
371	370		the provider's participation in this part of the sanctioning healthcare
372	371		provider's policy about participation in activities covered by this part;
373	372		(B) ''Participate in this part'':
374	373		(i) Means to perform the duties of an attending physician
375	374		pursuant to § 68-11-2404, the consulting physician function
376	375		pursuant to § 68-11-2405, or the counseling function pursuant to §
377	376		68-11-2406; and
378	377		(ii) Does not include:
379	378
380	379
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383	382		(a) Making an initial determination that a patient
384	383		has a terminal disease and informing the patient of the
385	384		medical prognosis;
386	385		(b) Providing information about this part to a
387	386		patient upon the request of the patient;
388	387		(c) Providing a patient, upon the request of the
389	388		patient, with a referral to another physician; or
390	389		(d) A patient contracting with the patient's
391	390		attending physician and consulting physician to act outside
392	391		of the course and scope of the provider's capacity as an
393	392		employee or independent contractor of the sanctioning
394	393		healthcare provider.
395	394		(f) Suspension or termination of staff membership or privileges under subsection
396	395		(e) is not reportable to the board of medical examiners or board of osteopathic
397	396		examination for disciplinary purposes or by the applicable quality improvement
398	397		committee to another quality improvement committee. Action taken pursuant to § 68-11-
399	398		2403, § 68-11-2404, § 68-11-2405, or § 68-11-2406 must not be the sole basis for a
400	399		report of immoral, unethical, unprofessional, or dishonorable conduct.
401	400		(g) This part does not allow a lower standard of care for patients in the
402	401		community where the patient is treated or a similar community.
403	402		68-11-2418. Liability.
404	403		(a) A person who, without authorization of the patient, willfully alters or forges a
405	404		request for medication, or conceals or destroys a rescission of that request with the
406	405		intent or effect of causing the patient's death, commits a Class A felony.
407	406
408	407
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410	409
411	410		(b) A person who coerces or exerts undue influence on a patient to request
412	411		medication for the purpose of ending the patient's life, or to destroy a rescission of a
413	412		request, commits a Class A felony.
414	413		(c) This part does not limit further liability for civil damages resulting from other
415	414		negligent conduct or intentional misconduct by any person.
416	415		(d) The penalties in this part do not preclude criminal penalties applicable under
417	416		other law for conduct which is inconsistent with this part.
418	417		68-11-2419. Claims by a governmental entity for costs incurred.
419	418		A governmental entity that incurs costs resulting from a person terminating the
420	419		person's life pursuant to this part in a public place has a claim against the estate of the
421	420		person to recover costs and reasonable attorney fees related to enforcing the claim.
422	421		68-11-2420. Form of the request.
423	422		A request for medication as authorized by this part must be substantially in the
424	423		following form:
425	424		REQUEST FOR MEDICATION
426	425		TO END MY LIFE IN A HUMANE
427	426		AND DIGNIFIED MANNER
428	427
429	428		I, ________________, am an adult of sound mind.
430	429
431	430		I am suffering from _______, which my attending physician has determined is a terminal
432	431		disease and which has been medically confirmed by a consulting physician.
433	432
434	433
435	434
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437	436
438	437		I have been fully informed of my diagnosis, prognosis, the nature of medication to be prescribed
439	438		and potential associated risks, the expected result, and the feasible alternatives, including
440	439		comfort care, hospice care, and pain control.
441	440
442	441		I request that my attending physician prescribe medication that will end my life in a humane and
443	442		dignified manner.
444	443
445	444		INITIAL ONE:
446	445		_____ I have informed my family of my decision and taken their opinions into consideration.
447	446		_____ I have decided not to inform my family of my decision.
448	447		_____ I have no family to inform of my decision.
449	448
450	449		I understand that I have the right to rescind this request at any time.
451	450
452	451		I understand the full import of this request, and I expect to die when I take the medication to be
453	452		prescribed. I further understand that although most deaths occur within three (3) hours, my
454	453		death may take longer and my physician has counseled me about this possibility.
455	454
456	455		I make this request voluntarily and without reservation, and I accept full moral responsibility for
457	456		my actions.
458	457
459	458		Signed: ___________
460	459		Dated: ___________
461	460
462	461		DECLARATION OF WITNESSES
463	462
464	463
465	464		- 17 - 000775
466	465
467	466
468	467		We declare that the person signing this request:
469	468		(a) Is personally known to us or has provided proof of identity;
470	469		(b) Signed this request in our presence;
471	470		(c) Appears to be of sound mind and not under duress, fraud, or undue influence; and
472	471		(d) Is not a patient for whom either of us is the attending physician.
473	472
474	473		__________ Witness 1/Date
475	474		__________ Witness 2/Date
476	475
477	476		NOTE: One (1) witness must not be a relative (by blood, marriage, or adoption) of the person
478	477		signing this request, is not entitled to any portion of the person's estate upon death, and must
479	478		not own, operate, or be employed at a healthcare facility where the person is a patient or
480	479		resident. If the patient is a patient in a long-term care facility at the time the written request is
481	480		made, then one (1) of the witnesses must be an individual designated by the facility.
482	481		68-11-2421. Penalties.
483	482		(a) It is a Class A felony for a person without authorization of the principal to
484	483		willfully alter, forge, conceal, or destroy an instrument, the reinstatement or revocation of
485	484		an instrument, or any other evidence or document reflecting the principal's desires and
486	485		interests, with the intent and effect of causing a withholding or withdrawal of life-
487	486		sustaining procedures or of artificially administered nutrition and hydration which hastens
488	487		the death of the principal.
489	488		(b) Except as provided in subsection (a), it is a Class A misdemeanor for a
490	489		person without authorization of the principal to willfully alter, forge, conceal, or destroy
491	490		an instrument, the reinstatement or revocation of an instrument, or any other evidence or
492	491
493	492
494	493		- 18 - 000775
495	494
496	495		document reflecting the principal's desires and interests with the intent or effect of
497	496		affecting a healthcare decision.
498	497		SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-13-216(b), is amended by adding
499	498		the following language as a new subdivision:
500	499		(4) Provide medication to a qualified patient for the purpose of ending the
501	500		patient's life in a humane and dignified manner pursuant to title 68, chapter 11, part 24.
502	501		SECTION 3. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance
503	502		is held invalid, then the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the act that
504	503		can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to that end, the provisions of
505	504		this act are severable.
506	505		SECTION 4. The headings in this act are for reference purposes only and do not
507	506		constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is
508	507		requested to include the headings in any compilation or publication containing this act.
509	508		SECTION 5. For purposes of rulemaking, this act takes effect upon becoming a law, the
510	509		public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public
511	510		welfare requiring it.