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Bill > HB1328
MD HB1328
MD HB1328End-of-Life Option Act (The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings and the Honorable Shane E. Pendergrass Act)
summary
Introduced
02/07/2025
02/07/2025
In Committee
02/07/2025
02/07/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
04/08/2025
04/08/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Authorizing an individual to request aid in dying by making certain requests; establishing requirements and prohibitions governing aid in dying, including requirements related to requests for aid in dying, consulting physicians, mental health assessments, the disposal of drugs prescribed for aid in dying, health care facility policies, and the effect of aid in dying on insurance policies; authorizing a pharmacist to dispense medication for aid in dying only to certain individuals under certain circumstances; etc.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the End-of-Life Option Act (also known as the Honorable Elijah E. Cummings and the Honorable Shane E. Pendergrass Act), which allows terminally ill adults with the mental capacity to make medical decisions to request medication that they can self-administer to end their life. The bill outlines a detailed process requiring multiple safeguards, including two oral requests and one written request, consultations with an attending and consulting physician, and potentially a mental health professional assessment. To qualify, an individual must be an adult with a terminal illness expected to result in death within 6 months, have the capacity to make medical decisions, and be able to self-administer the medication. The bill mandates that physicians provide comprehensive information about the individual's medical condition, prognosis, and alternative treatments, and ensures the request is voluntary. It protects healthcare providers who participate in good faith, specifies that such actions do not constitute suicide, and ensures that insurance policies cannot penalize individuals for requesting aid in dying. The bill also provides legal protections against coercion and requires healthcare facilities to have clear policies about participation, while maintaining that such participation is voluntary for healthcare providers.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (49)
Terri Hill (D)*,
Gabriel Acevero (D),
Nick Allen (D),
Heather Bagnall (D),
Ben Barnes (D),
Regina Boyce (D),
Lorig Charkoudian (D),
Frank Conaway (D),
Charlotte Crutchfield (D),
Bonnie Cullison (D),
Eric Ebersole (D),
Kris Fair (D),
Jessica Feldmark (D),
Linda Foley (D),
Cathi Forbes (D),
Pamela Guzzone (D),
Anne Kaiser (D),
Aaron Kaufman (D),
Ken Kerr (D),
Marc Korman (D),
Mary Lehman (D),
Robbyn Lewis (D),
Lesley Lopez (D),
Aletheia McCaskill (D),
David Moon (D),
Julie Palakovich Carr (D),
Cheryl Pasteur (D),
Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D),
Lily Qi (D),
Malcolm Ruff (D),
Sheila Ruth (D),
Matthew Schindler (D),
Emily Shetty (D),
Gary Simmons (D),
Karen Simpson (D),
Jared Solomon (D),
Ryan Spiegel (D),
Dana Stein (D),
Vaughn Stewart (D),
Deni Taveras (D),
Jen Terrasa (D),
Joe Vogel (D),
Melissa Wells (D),
Jheanelle Wilkins (D),
Nicole Williams (D),
Sarah Wolek (D),
Teresa Woorman (D),
Chao Wu (D),
Natalie Ziegler (D),
Last Action
House Health and Government Operations Hearing (14:00:00 3/3/2025 ) (on 03/03/2025)
bill text
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1328?ys=2025RS |
| BillText | https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb1328f.pdf |
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