Massachusetts H2505: An Act relative to end of life options

What the bill says

A bill from a bank or mortgage company, utility company, doctor, or hospital; (f) a W-2 form, property or excise tax bill, or Social Security Administration or other pension or retirement annual benefits summary statement dated within the current or prior year; (g) a MassHealth or Medicare benefit statement; or (h) filing of a Massachusetts tax return for the most recent tax year. “Self-administer”, a qualified patient’s act of ingesting medication obtained under this chapter. “Terminally ill”, having a terminal illness or condition which can reasonably be expected to cause death within 6 mont.

From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:

a bill from a bank or mortgage company, utility company, doctor, or hospital; (f) a W-2 form, property or excise tax bill, or Social Security Administration or other pension or retirement annual benefits summary statement dated within the current or prior year; (g) a MassHealth or Medicare benefit statement; or (h) filing of a Massachusetts tax return for the most recent tax year. “Self-administer”, a qualified patient’s act of ingesting medication obtained under this chapter. “Terminally ill”, having a terminal illness or condition which can reasonably be expected to cause death within 6 months, whether or not treatment is provided. Section 2. (a) A patient wishing to receive a prescription for medication under this chapter shall make an oral request to the patient's attending physician. The patient shall also submit a written request to the patient's attending physician in substantially the form set in section 4 no less than 15 days after making the oral request. (b) A terminally ill patient may voluntarily make an oral request for medical aid in dying and a prescription for medication that the patient can choose to self-administer to bring about a peaceful death if the patient: (1) is a mentally capable adult; (2) is a resident of Massachusetts; and (3) has been determined by the patient’s attending physician to be terminally ill. (c) …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• James O'Day (D, 14th Worcester) · primary sponsor