Health care; decision making, end of life, penalties. (HB1649)
Introduced By
Del. Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Health care; decision making; end of life; penalties. Allows an adult diagnosed with a terminal condition to request and an attending health care provider to prescribe a self-administered controlled substance for the purpose of ending the patient's life in a humane and dignified manner. The bill requires that a patient's request for a self-administered controlled substance to end his life must be given orally on two occasions and in writing, signed by the patient and one witness, and that the patient be given an express opportunity to rescind his request at any time. The bill makes it a Class 2 felony (i) to willfully and deliberately alter, forge, conceal, or destroy a patient's request, or rescission of request, for a self-administered controlled substance to end his life with the intent and effect of causing the patient's death; (ii) to coerce, intimidate, or exert undue influence on a patient to request a self-administered controlled substance for the purpose of ending his life or to destroy the patient's rescission of such request with the intent and effect of causing the patient's death; or (iii) to coerce, intimidate, or exert undue influence on a patient to forgo a self-administered controlled substance for the purpose of ending the patient's life. The bill also grants immunity from civil or criminal liability and professional disciplinary action to any person who complies with the provisions of the bill and allows health care providers to refuse to participate in the provision of a self-administered controlled substance to a patient for the purpose of ending the patient's life. Read the Bill »
Outcome
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/16/2020 | Committee |
| 01/16/2020 | Presented and ordered printed 20104784D |
| 01/16/2020 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 01/23/2020 | Impact statement from VCSC (HB1649) |
| 01/28/2020 | Impact statement from DPB (HB1649) |
| 02/07/2020 | Continued to 2021 in Courts of Justice |
Comments
This bill sounds good for those who don’t have quality of life and are diagnosed with a terminal illness .... however, many times the diagnosis is incorrect . God created humankind and is the only One to decide the time of death. I realize suffering is an awful thing to go through for oneself and loved ones , but is a time to draw closer to Him and prepare to meet your creator. Many of us don’t believe we will stand before God , but your belief doesn’t make it true. We will all pass on into the next life , where will you spend eternity. Our lives here on earth are but a vapor compared to eternity....