SB 1781 Summary

• Establishes the "Death with Dignity Act" creating a legal framework for terminally ill Arizona residents to request medication to end their life in a humane and dignified manner.

• Requires a patient to be an adult resident of Arizona with a terminal disease (incurable, irreversible condition expected to cause death within six months) confirmed by both an attending physician and consulting physician.

• Mandates a 15-day waiting period between initial oral request and prescription, two written requests with witnesses, and optional psychiatric evaluation if physicians believe the patient may be suffering from depression or psychological disorder affecting judgment.

• Protects participating physicians and healthcare providers from civil, criminal, and professional liability when acting in good faith compliance with the law, while allowing healthcare facilities to prohibit the practice on their premises with prior notification.

• Makes it a Class 2 felony to forge, coerce, or unlawfully alter requests or rescissions, and requires the Department of Health Services to collect and report annual statistics on prescription dispensing while maintaining confidentiality of individual records.