HB 2102 Summary

• Establishes the "Death with Dignity Act of 2018," creating a legal process for terminally ill patients to request medication to end their lives in a humane and dignified manner.

• Requires patients to have a terminal condition (expected to cause death within six months), be at least 90 days a resident of Arizona, and make both written and oral requests at least 15 days apart, with a 48-hour waiting period after written request.

• Mandates that an attending physician and independent consulting physician both confirm the terminal diagnosis and patient competency; requires psychiatric/psychological counseling if either physician suspects impaired judgment.

• Protects participating physicians, pharmacists, and healthcare providers from civil, criminal, or professional liability for good faith compliance; prohibits insurance companies from conditioning policies or rates based on a patient's request.

• Classifies forging requests or coercing patients into requests as manslaughter; requires detailed medical record documentation of all requests, diagnoses, and determinations throughout the process.