HB 5326 Summary

• Allows terminally ill Connecticut residents with an incurable condition expected to cause death within six months to request physician-prescribed medication for self-administration to end their life, effective October 1, 2014.

• Requires two written requests at least 15 days apart, witnessed by two persons (at least one unrelated to the patient and not entitled to the patient's estate), with confirmation by both an attending and consulting physician.

• Mandates attending physicians assess patient competency, provide informed decision counseling about diagnosis, prognosis, risks, alternatives including palliative care, and offer rescission opportunities before dispensing medication.

• Protects health care providers' right to refuse participation in aid in dying, requires transfer of medical records if providers decline, and allows health care facilities to adopt written policies prohibiting the practice.

• Clarifies that actions under this law do not constitute suicide or assisted suicide, prohibits coercion or forgery of requests (prosecutable as attempted murder or murder), and invalidates any contract provisions affecting a person's ability to request aid in dying.