VA SB359

Establishes a legal framework for medical aid in dying, allowing physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to prescribe self-administered medication to terminally ill patients who wish to end their lives

Requires patients to be Virginia residents age 18 or older with a terminal disease expected to cause death within six months, confirmed by both an attending and consulting health care provider

Mandates a multi-step request process including an advance directive, two oral requests (typically 15 days apart), a written request with witness attestation, and counseling on alternatives such as hospice and palliative care

Imposes Class 2 felony penalties for forging or altering a patient's request, coercing a patient to request aid-in-dying medication, or coercing a patient to forgo such a request

Protects health care providers from civil or criminal liability when acting in good faith, while allowing health care entities to adopt written policies prohibiting medical aid in dying on their premises