HB 2878 Summary

• Establishes a medical aid in dying program in Arizona allowing terminally ill adults with capacity to request a prescription for medication to self-administer to end their life in a humane and dignified manner.

• Requires a 15-day waiting period between initial oral request and prescription issuance, with a waiver available if the attending physician determines the individual will die within 15 days.

• Mandates two physician confirmations (attending and consulting physician) that the individual has a terminal illness (expected to result in death within six months), has decision-making capacity, and is acting voluntarily without coercion.

• Protects health care providers from civil, criminal, or professional liability when participating in good faith compliance with the article, while allowing health care facilities to prohibit the practice on their premises with prior written notice.

• Requires the Department of Health Services to collect dispensing records from health care providers within 30 days and publish annual statistical reports, with enforcement of violations as Class 2 felonies for document forgery or coercion related to the request.