By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Franklin County, MA) Massachusetts residents facing terminal illness may soon have a pathway for seeking end of life options. Senator Jo Comerford recently announced the launch of the End Of Life Options Act.
This bill is modeled after the Oregon Death with Dignity Act including safeguards like the terminal illness with a six-month prognosis must be confirmed by two doctors, the person can change their mind at any point, and the individual must be able to self-administer the medication.
The Act also requires the individual to make two separate requests for the medication with two witnesses and a specialist must complete a mental health screening on the person. Protections are put in place so physicians and pharmacists can reserve their right to decide whether or not they will participate in prescribing or dispensing the medication.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health would be required to issue publicly an annual report, without identifying information, and the underlying illness would be listed as the cause of death.