Bill > HB637

This bill provides a comprehensive framework for medical aid in dying in Montana, allowing terminally ill adults with mental capacity to request medication that will help them end their life peacefully. The legislation establishes detailed requirements for health care providers, including a thorough process to ensure the patient is making a voluntary, informed decision. Patients must be adults with a terminal condition (expected to die within 6 months), have the mental capacity to understand their decision, and be able to self-administer the medication. The bill mandates multiple safeguards, such as a 48-hour waiting period, mandatory counseling about alternatives like hospice care, and the requirement for the patient to complete a detailed request form with witnesses. Healthcare providers are protected from professional or legal repercussions if they choose to participate or decline to participate in medical aid in dying, and the legislation explicitly states that this process is not considered suicide or euthanasia. The bill also requires anonymous reporting of statistical data about medical aid in dying prescriptions and ensures that insurance policies cannot be negatively impacted by a patient's decision. Additionally, the legislation establishes criminal penalties for anyone who attempts to coerce or unduly influence a patient's decision, and it protects the patient's privacy by specifying how the death certificate will be handled.

Justice

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2113