MD HB1328

Allows adults with a terminal illness (prognosis of death within 6 months) who have capacity to make medical decisions to request medication from their physician that they may self-administer to end their life

Requires two oral requests (at least 15 days apart) and one written request witnessed by two individuals, plus confirmation from both an attending physician and a consulting physician that the individual qualifies

Mandates referral to a licensed mental health professional if either physician believes the individual may have impaired judgment or lacks capacity to make medical decisions

Death by self-administration of the prescribed medication is legally classified as death from natural causes (the terminal illness), not suicide, and cannot affect life insurance, health insurance, or annuity contracts

Health care providers may voluntarily participate or refuse to participate without professional penalty, and health care facilities may prohibit participation on their premises if they provide written notice to providers