Rep. Harriet Drummond (D – Anchorage) has introduced a bill to allow terminally ill patients to decide when to end their lives.
HB 99 was introduced Monday and would make it legal for adults suffering from a terminal illness to request a physician’s assistance in ending their own life.
The bill would allow for the patient’s doctor to dictate a medication or prescription that would end their life.
Terminal disease is defined in the bill as one that has been medically confirmed, is incurable, and will “within reasonable medical judgment” result in death within six months.
Rep. Drummond said it is not suicide but an option for people who are already dying.
