HF 1358 Summary

• Establishes the "End-of-Life Option Act" allowing mentally capable Minnesota residents with terminal illnesses (prognosis of 6 months or less) to request a prescription for self-administered medication to end their life peacefully.

• Requires two oral requests and one written request to an attending provider, plus one oral request to a consulting provider who must confirm the terminal diagnosis and mental capability.

• Attending providers must inform individuals of diagnosis, prognosis, treatment alternatives (comfort care, palliative care, hospice), medication risks and benefits, and the right to rescind requests at any time.

• Provides legal protections for providers and individuals acting in good faith compliance, including immunity from civil and criminal liability, and prohibits health care facilities from disciplining providers who offer this service outside facility premises.

• Requires attending providers to report prescriptions to the Department of Health within 30 days and deaths within 60 days; deaths are attributed to the underlying terminal disease, not suicide or homicide.