SB 1414 Summary

• Establishes the "Death with Dignity Act" by adding Chapter 33 to Arizona Revised Statutes, allowing terminally ill residents to request medication to end their lives in a humane and dignified manner.

• Requires patients to be at least 18 years old, capable of making health care decisions, have a medically confirmed terminal disease expected to cause death within six months, and be Arizona residents demonstrated through driver's license, voter registration, property ownership, or tax returns.

• Mandates a 15-day waiting period between initial oral request and prescription, with written request witnessed by two individuals (one unrelated to the patient and not benefiting from their estate), plus confirmation by both attending and consulting physicians.

• Requires psychiatric or psychological counseling if either physician believes the patient may be suffering from depression or a mental disorder impairing judgment before medication can be prescribed.

• Provides legal immunity for physicians, pharmacists, and other health care providers acting in good faith compliance with the law, while prohibiting the act's requirements from being sole basis for guardianship appointments or professional discipline charges.