A02694 Summary:
| BILL NO | A02694 |
| SAME AS | SAME AS S03947 |
| SPONSOR | Paulin (MS) |
| COSPNSR | Rosenthal L, Gottfried, Dinowitz, Galef, Hevesi, Steck, Blake, Lavine, Lupardo, Abinanti, Rodriguez, Jaffee, D'Urso, Miller MG, Ortiz, Arroyo, Simotas, Vanel, Quart, Rivera, Miller ML, Thiele, Mosley, Epstein, Seawright, Woerner, Reyes, Frontus, Fernandez, Griffin, Fall, Raynor |
| MLTSPNSR | Braunstein, Crouch, Lifton |
| Add Art 28-F §§2899-d - 2899-s, Pub Health L | |
| Relates to the medical aid in dying act; relates to a terminally ill patient's request for and use of medication for medical aid in dying. | |
A02694 Text:
Go to topSTATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2694 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY January 25, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, L. ROSENTHAL, GOTTFRIED, DINOWITZ, GALEF, HEVESI, STECK, BLAKE, LAVINE, LUPARDO, ABINANTI, RODRIGUEZ, JAFFEE, JONES, D'URSO, M. G. MILLER, ORTIZ, ARROYO, SIMOTAS, VANEL, QUART, RIVERA, M. L. MILLER, THIELE, MOSLEY, EPSTEIN, SEAWRIGHT, WOERNER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BRAUNSTEIN, CROUCH, LIFTON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to a terminally ill patient's request for and use of medication for medical aid in dying The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "medical 2 aid in dying act". 3 § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new article 28-F to 4 read as follows: 5 ARTICLE 28-F 6 MEDICAL AID IN DYING 7 Section 2899-d. Definitions. 8 2899-e. Request process. 9 2899-f. Attending physician responsibilities. 10 2899-g. Right to rescind request; requirement to offer opportu- 11 nity to rescind. 12 2899-h. Consulting physician responsibilities. 13 2899-i. Referral to mental health professional. 14 2899-j. Medical record documentation requirements. 15 2899-k. Form of written request and witness attestation. 16 2899-l. Protection and immunities. 17 2899-m. Permissible refusals and prohibitions. 18 2899-n. Relation to other laws and contracts. 19 2899-o. Safe disposal of unused medications. 20 2899-p. Death certificate. 21 2899-q. Reporting. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD00626-02-9A. 2694 2 1 2899-r. Penalties. 2 2899-s. Severability. 3 § 2899-d. Definitions. As used in this article: 4 1. "Adult" means an individual who is eighteen years of age or older. 5 2. "Attending physician" means the physician who has primary responsi- 6 bility for the care of the patient and treatment of the patient's termi- 7 nal illness or condition. 8 3. "Capacity" means the ability to understand and appreciate the 9 nature and consequences of health care decisions, including the benefits 10 and risks of and alternatives to any proposed health care, including 11 medical aid in dying, and to reach an informed decision. 12 4. "Consulting physician" means a physician who is qualified by 13 specialty or experience to make a professional diagnosis and prognosis 14 regarding a person's terminal illness or condition. 15 5. "Health care facility" means a general hospital, nursing home, or 16 residential health care facility as defined in section twenty-eight 17 hundred one of this chapter, or a hospice as defined in section four 18 thousand two of this chapter; provided that for the purposes of section 19 twenty eight hundred ninety-nine-m of this article, "hospice" shall 20 refer only to a facility providing in-patient hospice care or a hospice 21 residence. 22 6. "Health care provider" means a person licensed, certified, or 23 authorized by law to administer health care or dispense medication in 24 the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession. 25 7. "Informed decision" means a decision by a patient who is suffering 26 from a terminal illness or condition to request and obtain a 27 prescription for medication that the patient may self-administer to end 28 the patient's life that is based on an understanding and acknowledgment 29 of the relevant facts and that is made voluntarily, of the patient's own 30 volition and without coercion, after being fully informed of: 31 (a) the patient's medical diagnosis and prognosis; 32 (b) the potential risks associated with taking the medication to be 33 prescribed; 34 (c) the probable result of taking the medication to be prescribed; 35 (d) the possibility that the patient may choose not to obtain the 36 medication, or may obtain the medication but may decide not to self-ad- 37 minister it; and 38 (e) the feasible alternatives and appropriate treatment options, 39 including but not limited to palliative care and hospice care. 40 8. "Medical aid in dying" means the medical practice of a physician 41 prescribing medication to a qualified individual that the individual may 42 choose to self-administer to bring about death. 43 9. "Medically confirmed" means the medical opinion of the attending 44 physician that a patient has a terminal illness or condition and has 45 made an informed decision which has been confirmed by a consulting 46 physician who has examined the patient and the patient's relevant 47 medical records. 48 10. "Medication" means medication prescribed by a physician under this 49 article. 50 11. "Mental health professional" means a licensed physician, who is a 51 diplomate or eligible to be certified by a national board of psychiatry, 52 psychiatric nurse practitioner, or psychologist, licensed or certified 53 under the education law acting within his or her scope of practice and 54 who is qualified, by training and experience, certification, or board 55 certification or eligibility, to make a determination under section 56 twenty-eight hundred ninety-nine-i of this article.A. 2694 3 1 12. "Palliative care" means health care treatment, including interdis- 2 ciplinary end-of-life care, and consultation with patients and family 3 members, to prevent or relieve pain and suffering and to enhance the 4 patient's quality of life, including hospice care under article forty of 5 this chapter. 6 13. "Patient" means a person who is eighteen years of age or older 7 under the care of a physician. 8 14. "Physician" means an individual licensed to practice medicine in 9 New York state. 10 15. "Qualified individual" means a patient with a terminal illness or 11 condition, who has capacity, has made an informed decision, and has 12 satisfied the requirements of this article in order to obtain a 13 prescription for medication. 14 16. "Self-administer" means a qualified individual's affirmative, 15 conscious, and voluntary act of using medication under this article. 16 17. "Terminal illness or condition" means an incurable and irrevers- 17 ible illness or condition that has been medically confirmed and will, 18 within reasonable medical judgment, produce death within six months. 19 § 2899-e. Request process. 1. Oral and written request. A patient 20 wishing to request medication under this article shall make an oral 21 request and submit a written request to the patient's attending physi- 22 cian. 23 2. Making a written request. A patient may make a written request for 24 and consent to self-administer medication for the purpose of ending his 25 or her life in accordance with this article if the patient: 26 (a) has been determined by the attending physician to have a terminal 27 illness or condition and which has been medically confirmed by a 28 consulting physician; and 29 (b) based on an informed decision, expresses voluntarily, of the 30 patient's own volition and without coercion the request for medication 31 to end his or her life. 32 3. Written request signed and witnessed. (a) A written request for 33 medication under this article shall be signed and dated by the patient 34 and witnessed by at least two adults who, in the presence of the 35 patient, attest that to the best of his or her knowledge and belief the 36 patient has capacity, is acting voluntarily, is making the request for 37 medication of his or her own volition and is not being coerced to sign 38 the request. The written request shall be in substantially the form 39 described in section twenty-eight hundred ninety-nine-k of this article. 40 (b) One of the witnesses shall be an adult who is not: 41 (i) a relative of the patient by blood, marriage or adoption; 42 (ii) a person who at the time the request is signed would be entitled 43 to any portion of the estate of the patient upon death under any will or 44 by operation of law; or 45 (iii) an owner, operator, employee or independent contractor of a 46 health care facility where the patient is receiving treatment or is a 47 resident. 48 (c) The attending physician, consulting physician and, if applicable, 49 the mental health professional who provides a capacity determination of 50 the patient under this article shall not be a witness. 51 4. No person shall qualify for medical aid in dying under this article 52 solely because of age or disability. 53 5. Requests for a medical aid-in-dying prescription must be made by 54 the qualified individual and may not be made by any other individual, 55 including the qualified individual's health care agent, or other agent 56 or surrogate, or via advance healthcare directive.A. 2694 4 1 § 2899-f. Attending physician responsibilities. 1. The attending 2 physician shall examine the patient and his or her relevant medical 3 records and: 4 (a) make a determination of whether a patient has a terminal illness 5 or condition, has capacity, has made an informed decision and has made 6 the request voluntarily of the patient's own volition and without coer- 7 cion; 8 (b) inform the patient of the requirement under this article for 9 confirmation by a consulting physician, and refer the patient to a 10 consulting physician upon the patient's request; 11 (c) refer the patient to a mental health professional pursuant to 12 section twenty-eight hundred ninety-nine-i of this article if the 13 attending physician believes that the patient may lack capacity to make 14 an informed decision; 15 (d) provide information and counseling under section twenty-nine 16 hundred ninety-seven-c of this chapter; 17 (e) ensure that the patient is making an informed decision by discuss- 18 ing with the patient: (i) the patient's medical diagnosis and prognosis; 19 (ii) the potential risks associated with taking the medication to be 20 prescribed; (iii) the probable result of taking the medication to be 21 prescribed; (iv) the possibility that the patient may choose to obtain 22 the medication but not take it; (v) the feasible alternatives and appro- 23 priate treatment options, including but not limited to (1) information 24 and counseling regarding palliative and hospice care and end-of-life 25 options appropriate to the patient, including but not limited to: the 26 range of options appropriate to the patient; the prognosis, risks and 27 benefits of the various options; and the patient's legal rights to 28 comprehensive pain and symptom management at the end of life; and (2) 29 information regarding treatment options appropriate to the patient, 30 including the prognosis, risks and benefits of the various treatment 31 options; 32 (f) offer to refer the patient for other appropriate treatment 33 options, including but not limited to palliative care and hospice care; 34 (g) discuss with the patient the importance of: 35 (i) having another person present when the patient takes the medica- 36 tion and the restriction that no person other than the patient may 37 administer the medication; 38 (ii) not taking the medication in a public place; and 39 (iii) informing the patient's family of the patient's decision to 40 request and take medication that will end the patient's life; a patient 41 who declines or is unable to notify family shall not have his or her 42 request for medication denied for that reason; 43 (h) inform the patient that he or she may rescind the request for 44 medication at any time and in any manner; 45 (i) fulfill the medical record documentation requirements of section 46 twenty-eight hundred ninety-nine-j of this article; and 47 (j) ensure that all appropriate steps are carried out in accordance 48 with this article before writing a prescription for medication. 49 2. Upon receiving confirmation from a consulting physician under 50 section twenty-eight hundred ninety-nine-h of this article and subject 51 to section twenty-eight hundred ninety-nine-i of this article, the 52 attending physician who determines that the patient has a terminal 53 illness or condition, has capacity and has made a voluntary request for 54 medication as provided in this article, may personally, or by referral 55 to another physician, prescribe or order appropriate medication in 56 accordance with the patient's request under this article, and at theA. 2694 5 1 patient's request, facilitate the filling of the prescription and deliv- 2 ery of the medication to the patient. 3 3. In accordance with the direction of the prescribing or ordering 4 physician and the consent of the patient, the patient may self-adminis- 5 ter the medication to himself or herself. A health care professional or 6 other person shall not administer the medication to the patient. 7 § 2899-g. Right to rescind request; requirement to offer opportunity 8 to rescind. 1. A patient may at any time rescind his or her request for 9 medication under this article without regard to the patient's capacity. 10 2. A prescription for medication may not be written without the 11 attending physician offering the qualified individual an opportunity to 12 rescind the request. 13 § 2899-h. Consulting physician responsibilities. Before a patient who 14 is requesting medication may receive a prescription for medication under 15 this article, a consulting physician must: 16 1. examine the patient and his or her relevant medical records; 17 2. confirm, in writing, to the attending physician and the patient, 18 whether: (a) the patient has a terminal illness or condition; (b) the 19 patient is making an informed decision; (c) the patient has capacity, or 20 provide documentation that the consulting physician has referred the 21 patient for a determination under section twenty-eight hundred ninety- 22 nine-i of this article; and (d) the patient is acting voluntarily, of 23 the patient's own volition and without coercion. 24 § 2899-i. Referral to mental health professional. 1. If the attending 25 physician or the consulting physician determines that the patient may 26 lack capacity to make an informed decision due to a condition, includ- 27 ing, but not limited to, a psychiatric or psychological disorder, or 28 other condition causing impaired judgement, the attending physician or 29 consulting physician shall refer the patient to a mental health profes- 30 sional for a determination of whether the patient has capacity to make 31 an informed decision. The referring physician shall advise the patient 32 that the report of the mental health professional will be provided to 33 the attending physician and the consulting physician. 34 2. A mental health professional who evaluates a patient under this 35 section shall report, in writing, to the attending physician and the 36 consulting physician, his or her independent conclusions about whether 37 the patient has capacity to make an informed decision, provided that if, 38 at the time of the report, the patient has not yet been referred to a 39 consulting physician, then upon referral the attending physician shall 40 provide the consulting physician with a copy of the mental health 41 professional's report. If the mental health professional determines that 42 the patient lacks capacity to make an informed decision, the patient 43 shall not be deemed a qualified individual, and the attending physician 44 shall not prescribe medication to the patient. 45 3. A determination made pursuant to this section that an adult patient 46 lacks decision-making capacity shall not be construed as a finding that 47 the patient lacks capacity for any other purpose. 48 § 2899-j. Medical record documentation requirements. An attending 49 physician shall document or file the following in the patient's medical 50 record: 51 1. the dates of all oral requests by the patient for medication under 52 this article; 53 2. the written request by the patient for medication under this arti- 54 cle, including the declaration of witnesses and interpreter's declara- 55 tion, if applicable;A. 2694 6 1 3. the attending physician's diagnosis and prognosis, determination of 2 capacity, and determination that the patient is acting voluntarily, of 3 the patient's own volition and without coercion, and has made an 4 informed decision; 5 4. if applicable, written confirmation of capacity under section twen- 6 ty-eight hundred ninety-nine-i of this article; and 7 5. a note by the attending physician indicating that all requirements 8 under this article have been met and indicating the steps taken to carry 9 out the request, including a notation of the medication prescribed or 10 ordered. 11 § 2899-k. Form of written request and witness attestation. 1. A 12 request for medication under this article shall be in substantially the 13 following form: 14 REQUEST FOR MEDICATION TO END MY LIFE 15 I, _________________________________, am an adult who has capacity, 16 which means I understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of 17 health care decisions, including the benefits and risks of and alterna- 18 tives to any proposed health care, and to reach an informed decision and 19 to communicate health care decisions to a physician. 20 I have been diagnosed with ______________(insert diagnosis), which my 21 attending physician has determined is a terminal illness or condition, 22 which has been medically confirmed by a consulting physician. 23 I have been fully informed of my diagnosis and prognosis, the nature 24 of the medication to be prescribed and potential associated risks, the 25 expected result, and the feasible alternatives and treatment options 26 including but not limited to palliative care and hospice care. 27 I request that my attending physician prescribe medication that will 28 end my life if I choose to take it, and I authorize my attending physi- 29 cian to contact another physician or any pharmacist about my request. 30 INITIAL ONE: 31 ( ) I have informed or intend to inform one or more members of my 32 family of my decision. 33 ( ) I have decided not to inform any member of my family of my deci- 34 sion. 35 ( ) I have no family to inform of my decision. 36 I understand that I have the right to rescind this request or decline 37 to use the medication at any time. 38 I understand the importance of this request, and I expect to die if I 39 take the medication to be prescribed. I further understand that although 40 most deaths occur within three hours, my death may take longer, and my 41 attending physician has counseled me about this possibility. 42 I make this request voluntarily, of my own volition and without being 43 coerced, and I accept full responsibility for my actions. 44 Signed: __________________________ 45 Dated: ___________________________ 46 DECLARATION OF WITNESSES 47 I declare that the person signing this "Request for Medication to End 48 My Life": 49 (a) is personally known to me or has provided proof of identity;A. 2694 7 1 (b) voluntarily signed the "Request for Medication to End My Life" in 2 my presence or acknowledged to me that he or she signed it; and 3 (c) to the best of my knowledge and belief, has capacity and is making 4 the "Request for Medication to End My Life" voluntarily, of his or her 5 own volition and is not being coerced to sign the "Request for Medica- 6 tion to End My Life". 7 I am not the attending physician or consulting physician of the person 8 signing the "Request for Medication to End My Life" or, if applicable, 9 the mental health professional who provides a capacity determination of 10 the person signing the "Request for Medication to End My Life" at the 11 time the "Request for Medication to End My Life" was signed. 12 I further declare under penalty of perjury that the statements made 13 herein are true and correct and false statements made herein are punish- 14 able. 15 __________________________ Witness 1, Date: ________________ 16 __________________________ (Printed name) 17 __________________________ (Address) 18 __________________________ (Telephone number) 19 I further declare that I am not (i) related to the above-named patient 20 by blood, marriage or adoption, (ii) entitled at the time the patient 21 signed the "Request for Medication to End My Life" to any portion of the 22 estate of the patient upon his/her death under any will or by operation 23 of law, or (iii) an owner, operator, employee or independent contractor 24 of a health care facility where the patient is receiving treatment or is 25 a resident. 26 __________________________ Witness 2, Date: _________________ 27 __________________________ (Printed name) 28 __________________________ (Address) 29 __________________________ (Telephone number) 30 NOTE: Only one of the two witnesses may (i) be a relative (by blood, 31 marriage or adoption) of the person signing the "Request for Medication 32 to End My Life", (ii) be entitled to any portion of the person's estate 33 upon death under any will or by operation of law, or (iii) own, operate, 34 be employed or be an independent contractor at a health care facility 35 where the person is receiving treatment or is a resident. 36 2. (a) The "Request for Medication to End My Life" shall be written in 37 the same language as any conversations, consultations, or interpreted 38 conversations or consultations between a patient and at least one of his 39 or her attending or consulting physicians. 40 (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the written 41 "Request for Medication to End My Life" may be prepared in English even 42 when the conversations or consultations or interpreted conversations or 43 consultations were conducted in a language other than English or with 44 auxiliary aids or hearing, speech or visual aids, if the English 45 language form includes an attached declaration by the interpreter of theA. 2694 8 1 conversation or consultation, which shall be in substantially the 2 following form: 3 INTERPRETER'S DECLARATION 4 I, ___________ (insert name of interpreter)_____ ,(mark as applica- 5 ble): 6 ( ) for a patient whose conversations or consultations or interpreted 7 conversations or consultations were conducted in a language other than 8 English and the "Request for Medication to End My Life" is in English: I 9 declare that I am fluent in English and (insert target language). I have 10 the requisite language and interpreter skills to be able to interpret 11 effectively, accurately and impartially information shared and communi- 12 cations between the attending or consulting physician and (name of 13 patient). 14 I certify that on (insert date), at approximately (insert time), I 15 interpreted the communications and information conveyed between the 16 physician and (name of patient) as accurately and completely to the best 17 of my knowledge and ability and read the "Request for Medication to End 18 My Life" to (name of patient) in (insert target language). 19 (Name of patient) affirmed to me his/her desire to sign the "Request 20 for Medication to End My Life" voluntarily, of (name of patient)'s own 21 volition and without coercion. 22 ( ) for a patient with a speech, hearing or vision disability: I 23 declare that I have the requisite language, reading and/or interpreter 24 skills to communicate with the patient and to be able to read and/or 25 interpret effectively, accurately and impartially information shared and 26 communications that occurred on (insert date) between the attending or 27 consulting physician and (name of patient). 28 I certify that on (insert date), at approximately (insert time), I 29 read and/or interpreted the communications and information conveyed 30 between the physician and (name of patient) impartially and as accurate- 31 ly and completely to the best of my knowledge and ability and, where 32 needed for effective communication, read or interpreted the "Request for 33 Medication to End my Life" to (name of patient). 34 (Name of patient) affirmed to me his/her desire to sign the "Request 35 for Medication to End My Life" voluntarily, of (name of patient)'s own 36 volition and without coercion. 37 I further declare under penalty of perjury that (i) the foregoing is 38 true and correct; (ii) I am not (A) related to (name of patient) by 39 blood, marriage or adoption, (B) entitled at the time (name of patient) 40 signed the "Request for Medication to End My Life" to any portion of the 41 estate of (name of patient) upon his/her death under any will or by 42 operation of law, or (C) an owner, operator, employee or independent 43 contractor of a health care facility where (name of patient) is receiv- 44 ing treatment or is a resident, except that if I am an employee or inde- 45 pendent contractor at such health care facility, providing interpreter 46 services is part of my job description at such health care facility or I 47 have been trained to provide interpreter services and (name of patient) 48 requested that I provide interpreter services to him/her for the 49 purposes stated in this Declaration; and (iii) false statements made 50 herein are punishable. 51 Executed at (insert city, county and state) on this (insert day of 52 month) of (insert month), (insert year).A. 2694 9 1 __________________________ (Signature of Interpreter) 2 __________________________ (Printed name of Interpreter) 3 __________________________ (ID # or Agency Name) 4 __________________________ (Address of Interpreter) 5 __________________________ (Language Spoken by Interpreter) 6 (c) An interpreter whose services are provided under paragraph (b) of 7 this subdivision shall not (i) be related to the patient who signs the 8 "Request for Medication to End My Life" by blood, marriage or adoption, 9 (ii) be entitled at the time the "Request for Medication to End My Life" 10 is signed by the patient to any portion of the estate of the patient 11 upon death under any will or by operation of law, or (iii) be an owner, 12 operator, employee or independent contractor of a health care facility 13 where the patient is receiving treatment or is a resident; provided that 14 an employee or independent contractor whose job description at the 15 health care facility includes interpreter services or who is trained to 16 provide interpreter services and who has been requested by the patient 17 to serve as an interpreter under this article shall not be prohibited 18 from serving as a witness under this article. 19 § 2899-l. Protection and immunities. 1. A physician, pharmacist, other 20 health care professional or other person shall not be subject to civil 21 or criminal liability or professional disciplinary action by any govern- 22 ment entity for taking any reasonable good-faith action or refusing to 23 act under this article, including, but not limited to: (a) engaging in 24 discussions with a patient relating to the risks and benefits of end-of- 25 life options in the circumstances described in this article, (b) provid- 26 ing a patient, upon request, with a referral to another health care 27 provider, (c) being present when a qualified individual self-administers 28 medication, (d) refraining from acting to prevent the qualified individ- 29 ual from self-administering such medication, or (e) refraining from 30 acting to resuscitate the qualified individual after he or she self-ad- 31 ministers such medication. 32 2. Nothing in this section shall limit civil or criminal liability for 33 negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct. 34 § 2899-m. Permissible refusals and prohibitions. 1. (a) A physician, 35 nurse, pharmacist, other health care provider or other person shall not 36 be under any duty, by law or contract, to participate in the provision 37 of medication to a patient under this article. 38 (b) If a health care provider is unable or unwilling to participate in 39 the provision of medication to a patient under this article and the 40 patient transfers care to a new health care provider, the prior health 41 care provider shall transfer or arrange for the transfer, upon request, 42 of a copy of the patient's relevant medical records to the new health 43 care provider. 44 2. (a) A private health care facility may prohibit the prescribing, 45 dispensing, ordering or self-administering of medication under this 46 article while the patient is being treated in or while the patient is 47 residing in the health care facility if: 48 (i) the prescribing, dispensing, ordering or self-administering is 49 contrary to a formally adopted policy of the facility that is expressly 50 based on sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions central 51 to the facility's operating principles; andA. 2694 10 1 (ii) the facility has informed the patient of such policy prior to 2 admission or as soon as reasonably possible. 3 (b) Where a facility has adopted a prohibition under this subdivision, 4 if a patient who wishes to use medication under this article requests, 5 the patient shall be transferred promptly to another health care facili- 6 ty that is reasonably accessible under the circumstances and willing to 7 permit the prescribing, dispensing, ordering and self-administering of 8 medication under this article with respect to the patient. 9 3. Where a health care facility has adopted a prohibition under this 10 subdivision, any health care provider or employee or independent 11 contractor of the facility who violates the prohibition may be subject 12 to sanctions otherwise available to the facility, provided the facility 13 has previously notified the health care provider, employee or independ- 14 ent contractor of the prohibition in writing. 15 § 2899-n. Relation to other laws and contracts. 1. (a) A patient who 16 requests medication under this article shall not, because of that 17 request, be considered to be a person who is suicidal, and self-adminis- 18 tering medication under this article shall not be deemed to be suicide, 19 for any purpose. 20 (b) Action taken in accordance with this article shall not be 21 construed for any purpose to constitute suicide, assisted suicide, 22 attempted suicide, promoting a suicide attempt, euthanasia, mercy kill- 23 ing, or homicide under the law, including as an accomplice or accessory 24 or otherwise. 25 2. (a) No provision in a contract, will or other agreement, whether 26 written or oral, to the extent the provision would affect whether a 27 person may make or rescind a request for medication or take any other 28 action under this article, shall be valid. 29 (b) No obligation owing under any contract shall be conditioned or 30 affected by the making or rescinding of a request by a person for medi- 31 cation or taking any other action under this article. 32 3. (a) A person and his or her beneficiaries shall not be denied bene- 33 fits under a life insurance policy for actions taken in accordance with 34 this article. 35 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or contract, the sale, 36 procurement or issuance of a life or health insurance or annuity policy, 37 or the rate charged for a policy, shall not be conditioned upon or 38 affected by a patient making or rescinding a request for medication 39 under this article. 40 4. An insurer shall not provide any information in communications made 41 to a patient about the availability of medication under this article 42 absent a request by the patient or by his or her attending physician 43 upon the request of such patient. Any communication shall not include 44 both the denial of coverage for treatment and information as to the 45 availability of medication under this article. 46 5. The sale, procurement, or issue of any professional malpractice 47 insurance policy or the rate charged for the policy shall not be condi- 48 tioned upon or affected by whether the insured does or does not take or 49 participate in any action under this article. 50 § 2899-o. Safe disposal of unused medications. A person who has 51 custody or control of any unused medication prescribed under this arti- 52 cle after the death of the qualified individual shall personally deliver 53 the unused medication for disposal to the nearest qualified facility 54 that properly disposes of controlled substances or shall dispose of it 55 by lawful means in accordance with regulations made by the commissioner, 56 regulations made by or guidelines of the commissioner of education, orA. 2694 11 1 guidelines of a federal drug enforcement administration approved take- 2 back program. A qualified facility that properly disposes of controlled 3 substances shall accept and dispose of any medication delivered to it as 4 provided hereunder regardless of whether such medication is a controlled 5 substance. The commissioner may make regulations as may be appropriate 6 for the safe disposal of unused medications prescribed, dispensed or 7 ordered under this article as provided in this section. 8 § 2899-p. Death certificate. 1. If otherwise authorized by law, the 9 attending physician may sign the qualified individual's death certif- 10 icate. 11 2. The cause of death listed on a qualified individual's death certif- 12 icate who dies after self-administering medication under this article 13 will be the underlying terminal illness or condition. 14 § 2899-q. Reporting. 1. The commissioner shall annually review a 15 sample of the records maintained under sections twenty-eight hundred 16 ninety-nine-j and twenty-eight hundred ninety-nine-p of this article. 17 The commissioner shall adopt regulations establishing reporting require- 18 ments for physicians taking action under this article to determine 19 utilization and compliance with this article. The information collected 20 under this subdivision shall not constitute a public record available 21 for public inspection and shall be confidential and collected and main- 22 tained in a manner that protects the privacy of the patient, his or her 23 family, and any health care provider acting in connection with such 24 patient under this article, except that such information may be 25 disclosed to a governmental agency as authorized or required by law 26 relating to professional discipline, protection of public health or law 27 enforcement. 28 2. The commissioner shall prepare a report annually containing rele- 29 vant data regarding utilization and compliance with this article and 30 shall send such report to the legislature, and post such report on the 31 department's website. 32 § 2899-r. Penalties. 1. Nothing in this article shall be construed to 33 limit professional discipline or civil liability resulting from conduct 34 in violation of this article, negligent conduct, or intentional miscon- 35 duct by any person. 36 2. Conduct in violation of this article shall be subject to applicable 37 criminal liability under state law, including, where appropriate and 38 without limitation, offenses constituting homicide, forgery, coercion, 39 and related offenses, or federal law. 40 § 2899-s. Severability. If any provision of this article or any appli- 41 cation of any provision of this article, is held to be invalid, or to 42 violate or be inconsistent with any federal law or regulation, that 43 shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of any other provision of 44 this article, or of any other application of any provision of this arti- 45 cle, which can be given effect without that provision or application; 46 and to that end, the provisions and applications of this article are 47 severable. 48 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.