The measure was included with a food sanitation measure, referred to as Senate Bill 1950, that was approved by a 30 to 27 vote.
Senate Bill 0009, also known as the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act, outlines a detailed step-by-step process by which the patient with a terminal disease can request the life ending medication. The process is there to ensure the patient’s autonomy, to gain informed consent, and to protect against acts of coercion.
It would allow mentally competent adults with terminal illnesses and a prognosis of six months or less to ask for life-ended medication after two oral and one written requests that are verified by two physicians. The attending physician is required to give detailed information regarding the patient, and two witnesses have to sign the request form, one of which is not a family member or estate recipient.
Supporters of assisted suicide say it's a matter of personal autonomy or freedom, but critics say this is not right.
