H789 - End of Life Option Act

• Allows terminally ill North Carolina adults diagnosed with a disease expected to result in death within 6 months to request and self-administer a physician-prescribed aid-in-dying drug to hasten death in a humane manner.

• Requires two verbal requests at least 15 days apart followed by a written request signed before two witnesses; attending and consulting physicians must confirm the terminal diagnosis, patient capacity to make medical decisions, and voluntary informed consent before prescription.

• Prohibits coercion, forgery, or unauthorized administration of the drug; establishes felony penalties for knowingly altering requests, concealing rescissions, or administering drugs without consent.

• Protects health care providers and pharmacists from civil, criminal, or professional liability for good faith participation; allows providers to refuse participation but prohibits interference with qualified patients' decisions.

• Requires Department of Health and Human Services to collect confidential data on prescriptions, dispensing, and deaths; publish annual reports by March 15 with demographic and statistical information while protecting individual privacy.