Chapter 6B. Physician Assisted Death.
§ 7–661.01. Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the term:
(1) "Attending physician" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 7-621(1); provided, that the attending physician's practice shall not be primarily or solely composed of patients requesting a covered medication.
(2) "Capable" means that, in the opinion of a court or the patient's attending physician, consulting physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist, a patient has the ability to make and communicate health care decisions to health care providers.
(3) "Consulting physician" means a physician who is qualified by specialty or experience to make a professional diagnosis and prognosis regarding the patient's disease and who is willing to participate in the provision of a covered medication to a qualified patient in accordance with this chapter.
(4) "Counseling" means one or more consultations as necessary between a District licensed psychiatrist or psychologist and a patient for the purpose of determining that the patient is capable and not suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgment.
(5) "Covered medication" means a medication prescribed pursuant to this chapter for the purpose of ending a person's life in a humane and peaceful manner.
(6) "Department" means the Department of Health.
(7) "Health care facility" means a hospital or long-term care facility.
(8) "Health care provider" means a person, partnership, corporation, facility, or institution that is licensed, certified, or authorized under District law to administer health care or dispense medication in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.
(9) "Hospital" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 44-501(a)(1).
(10) "Informed decision" means a decision by a qualified patient to request and obtain a prescription for a covered medication that is based on an appreciation of the relevant facts and is made after being fully informed by the attending physician of:
(A) His or her medical diagnosis;
(B) His or her prognosis;
(C) The potential risks associated with taking the covered medication;
(D) The probable results of taking the covered medication; and
(E) Feasible alternatives to taking the covered medication, including comfort care, hospice care, and pain control.
(11) "Long-term care facility" means a nursing home or community residence facility, as defined by § 44-501(a)(3) and (4), or an assisted living residence, as defined by § 44-102.01(4).
(12) "Medically confirmed" means the medical opinion of the attending physician has been confirmed by a consulting physician who has examined the patient and the patient's relevant medical records.
(13) "Patient" means a person who has attained 18 years of age, resides in the District of Columbia, and is under the care of a physician.
(14) "Physician" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 7-621(4).
(15) "Qualified patient" means a patient who:
(A) Has been determined to be capable; and
(B) Satisfies the requirements of this chapter in order to obtain a prescription for a covered medication.
(16) "Terminal disease" means an incurable and irreversible disease that has been medically confirmed and will, within reasonable medical judgment, result in death within 6 months.
§ 7–661.02. Requests for a covered medication.
(a) To request a covered medication, a patient shall:
(1) Make 2 oral requests, separated by at least 15 days, to an attending physician.
(2) Submit a written request, signed and dated by the patient, to the attending physician before the patient makes his or her 2nd oral request and at least 48 hours before a covered medication may be prescribed or dispensed.
(b)(1) A written request made pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of this section shall be witnessed by at least 2 individuals who, in the presence of the patient, attest to the best of their knowledge and belief that the patient is capable, acting voluntarily, and is not being unduly influenced to sign the request.
(2) If the patient is a patient in a long-term care facility at the time the written request is made under subsection (a)(2) of this section, one of the witnesses shall be an individual designated by the facility who has met the qualifications specified in the Department's regulations.
(3) One of the witnesses shall be a person who is not:
(A) A relative of the patient by blood, marriage, or adoption;
(B) At the time the request is signed, entitled to any portion of the estate of the qualified patient upon death under any will or by operation of law; or
(C) An owner, operator, or employee of a health care facility where the qualified patient is receiving medical treatment or is a resident.
(4) The patient's attending physician at the time of the request shall not be a witness.
(c) A written request made pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of this section shall be in substantially the following form:
"REQUEST FOR MEDICATION TO END MY LIFE IN A HUMANE AND PEACEFUL MANNER
"I, _____________, am an adult of sound mind.
"I am suffering from ____________, which my attending physician has determined is a terminal disease and which has been medically confirmed by a consulting physician.
"I have been fully informed of my diagnosis, the nature of medication to be prescribed and potential associated risks, the expected result, and the feasible alternatives, including comfort care, hospice care, and pain control.
"I request that my attending physician prescribe medication that will end my life in a humane and peaceful manner.
"INITIAL ONE:
"[ ] I have informed my family of my decision and taken their opinion into consideration.
"[ ] I have decided not to inform my family of my decision.
"[ ] I have no family to inform of my decision.
"I understand that I have the right to rescind this request as any time.
"I understand the full import of this request, and I expect to die when I take the medication to be prescribed. I further understand that although most deaths occur within 3 hours of taking the medication to be prescribed, my death may take longer, and my physician has counseled me about this possibility.
"I make this request voluntarily and without reservation, and I accept full moral responsibility for my actions.
"Signed:
"Dated:
"DECLARATION OF WITNESSES:
"We declare that the person signing this request:
"(a) Is personally known to us or has provided proof of identity;
"(b) Signed this request in our presence;
"(c) Appears to be of sound mind and not under duress, fraud, or undue influence;
"(d) Is not a patient for whom either of us is the attending physician.
"Date:
"Witness 1:
"Address:
"Witness 1 signature:
"Date:
"Witness 2:
"Address:
"Witness 2 signature:
"NOTE: One witness shall not be a relative (by blood, marriage, or adoption) of the person signing this request, shall not be entitled to any portion of the person’s estate upon death, and shall not own, operate, or be employed at the health care facility where the person is a patient or resident. If the patient is a patient at a long-term care facility, one of the witnesses shall be an individual designated by the facility.".
§ 7–661.03. Responsibilities of the attending physician.
(a) Upon receiving a written request for a covered medication pursuant to § 7-661.02(a)(2), the attending physician shall:
(1) Determine that the patient:
(A) Has a terminal disease;
(B) Is capable;
(C) Has made the request voluntarily; and
(D) Is a resident of the District of Columbia;
(2) Inform the patient of:
(A) His or her medical diagnosis;
(B) His or her prognosis;
(C) The potential risks associated with taking a covered medication;
(D) The probable result of taking a covered medication; and
(E) The feasible alternatives to taking a covered medication, including comfort care, hospice care, and pain control;
(3) Refer the patient to a consulting physician;
(4) Refer the patient to counseling if appropriate, pursuant to § 7-661.04;
(5) Inform the patient of the availability of supportive counseling to address the range of possible psychological and emotional stress involved with the end stages of life;
(6) Recommend that the patient notify next of kin, friends, and spiritual advisor, if applicable, of his or her decision to request a covered medication;
(7) Counsel the patient about the importance of having another person present when the patient takes a covered medication and of not taking a covered medication in a public place;
(8) Inform the patient that he or she has an opportunity to rescind a request for a covered medication at any time and in any manner;
(9) Verify, immediately before writing the prescription for a covered medication, that the patient is making an informed decision; and
(10) Fulfill the medical record documentation requirements of § 7-661.06.
(b) If a consulting physician receives a referral for a patient from an attending physician pursuant to subsection (a)(3) of this section, the consulting physician shall:
(1) Examine the patient and his or her relevant medical records to confirm, in writing, the attending physician's diagnosis that the patient is suffering from a terminal disease;
(2) Verify, in writing, to the attending physician that the patient:
(A) Is capable;
(B) Is acting voluntarily; and
(C) Has made an informed decision; and
(3) Refer the patient to counseling if appropriate, pursuant to § 7-661.04.
§ 7–661.04. Counseling referral.
(a) If, in the opinion of the attending physician or the consulting physician, a patient may be suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgment, either physician shall refer the patient to counseling.
(b) No covered medication shall be prescribed until the patient receives counseling and the psychiatrist or psychologist performing the counseling determines that the patient is not suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgment.
§ 7–661.05. Dispensing a covered medication and reporting requirements.
(a) An attending physician may not prescribe or dispense a covered medication, unless:
(1) The patient has satisfied the requirements of §§ 7-661.02 and 7-661.04, if applicable;
(2) The attending physician has satisfied the requirements of §§ 7-661.03 and 7-661.04, if applicable; and
(3) The attending physician has offered the patient an opportunity to rescind his or her request for a covered medication immediately before prescribing or dispensing the covered medication.
(b) After the attending physician ensures that the requirements provided in subsection (a) of this section have been met, the attending physician may:
(1) Dispense a covered medication, including ancillary medications intended to minimize the patient's discomfort, directly to the qualified patient; provided, that the attending physician is authorized to do so in § 48-903.02 and has a current Drug Enforcement Administration certificate issued pursuant to 21 C.F.R. § 1301.35; or
(2) After a qualified patient completes the form under § 7-661.02(c):
(A) Contact a pharmacist and inform the pharmacist of the prescription for a covered medication; and
(B) Deliver the written prescription for a covered medication personally, or by telephone, facsimile, or electronically to the pharmacist.
(c) Upon receiving a written prescription for a covered medication by an attending physician under subsection (b)(2) of this section, the pharmacist may dispense the covered medication to the following:
(A) The patient;
(B) The attending physician; or
(C) An expressly identified agent designated by the qualified patient, with the designation communicated to the pharmacist by the patient verbally or in writing.
(d) A pharmacist, upon dispensing a covered medication under subsection (c) of this section, shall immediately notify the attending physician that the covered medication was dispensed.
(e) Within 30 days after a health care provider dispenses a covered medication, the attending physician shall file with the Department a copy of the information required by § 7-661.06 on a form created by the Department.
(f) Within 30 days after a patient ingests a covered medication, or as soon as practicable after the a health care provider is made aware of a patient's death resulting from ingesting the covered medication, the health care provider shall notify the Department of a patient's death.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the attending physician may sign the patient's death certificate.
(h) The cause of death listed on a death certificate shall identify the qualified patient's underlying medical condition consistent with the International Classification of Diseases without reference to the fact that the qualified patient ingested a covered medication.
(i)(1) The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall review each death involving a qualified patient who ingests a covered medication and, if warranted by the review, may conduct an investigation.
(2) The review required by paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not constitute an inquiry for the purposes of § 7-211; provided, that an investigation authorized by paragraph (1) of this subsection shall constitute an inquiry for the purposes of Chapter 2 of this title.
§ 7–661.06. Medical record documentation requirements.
(a) The attending physician shall document and file in the medical record of the patient requesting a covered medication:
(1) All oral requests by a patient for a covered medication;
(2) All written requests by a patient for a covered medication;
(3) The attending physician's:
(A) Diagnosis and prognosis of the patient;
(B) Determination that the patient is a District resident and is capable, acting voluntarily, and has made an informed decision when requesting a covered medication;
(C) Offer to the patient to rescind his or her request for a covered medication before the patient makes his or her second oral request;
(D) Notation that all requirements under this chapter have been met; and
(E) Notation regarding all steps taken to carry out the patient's request for a covered medication, including a notation of the covered medication prescribed;
(4) The consulting physician's:
(A) Diagnosis and prognosis of the patient;
(B) Verification that the patient is capable, acting voluntarily, and has made an informed decision when requesting a covered medication; and
(5) If a patient is referred to counseling pursuant to § 7-661.04, a report by the psychiatrist or psychologist of the outcome and determinations made during counseling.
§ 7–661.07. Reporting requirements.
(a) Beginning one year after February 18, 2017, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Department shall review the records maintained under § 7-661.06 for the purpose of gathering data and ensuring compliance with this chapter.
(b) The Department shall generate and make available to the public an annual statistical report of information collected pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The report shall include:
(1) The number of qualified patients for whom a prescription for a covered medication was written;
(2) The number of known qualified patients who died each year for whom a prescription for a covered medication was written, and the cause of death of those patients;
(3) The number of known deaths in the District from using a covered medication;
(4) The number of physicians who wrote prescriptions for a covered medication; and
(5) Of the qualified patients who died due to using a covered medication, demographic percentages organized by the following characteristics:
(A) Age at death;
(B) Education level, if known;
(C) Race;
(D) Sex;
(E) Type of insurance, including whether or not they had insurance, if known; and
(F) Terminal disease.
§ 7–661.08. Effect on construction of wills and contracts.
(a) A provision in a contract, will, or other agreement executed on or after February 18, 2017, whether written or oral, is not valid if the provision would affect whether a person may make or rescind a request for a covered medication.
(b) An obligation owing under any contract, will, or other agreement executed on or after February 18, 2017 may not be conditioned or affected by a person making or rescinding a request for a covered medication.
§ 7–661.09. Insurance and annuity policies.
(a) The sale, procurement, or issuance of any life, health, accident insurance, annuity policy, employment benefits, or the rate charged for any policy may not be conditioned upon or affected by the making or rescinding of a qualified patient's request for a covered medication.
(b) A qualified patient's act of ingesting a covered medication shall not have an effect upon a life, health, accident insurance, annuity policy, or employment benefits.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of an insurance or annuity provider from investigating a claim for benefits for a death.
§ 7–661.10. Health care provider participation; notification; permissible sanctions.
(a) No health care provider shall be obligated under this chapter, by contract, or otherwise, to participate in the provision of a covered medication to a qualified patient.
(b) If a health care provider is unable or unwilling to carry out a patient's request for a covered medication under this chapter and the patient transfers his or her care to a new health care provider, the prior health care provider shall transfer, upon request of the patient, a copy of the patient's relevant medical records to the new health care provider.
(c) A health care provider may prohibit any other health care provider that it employs or contracts with from providing a covered medication under this chapter on the prohibiting health care provider's premises; provided, that the prohibiting health care provider has notified the health care provider of this policy before the employee or contractor has provided a covered medication.
(d) Notwithstanding § 7-661.11, if, before a covered medication has been provided, the prohibiting health care provider has notified the sanctioned health care provider that it prohibits providing a covered medication under this chapter, the prohibiting health care provider may impose the following sanctions:
(1) Loss of privileges, loss of membership, or other sanction pursuant to the prohibiting health care provider's medical staff bylaws, policies, and procedures, if the sanctioned health care provider is a member of the prohibiting health care provider's medical staff and participates under this chapter while on staff on the premises of the prohibiting health care provider's health care facility;
(2) Termination of the lease or other property contract or other nonmonetary remedies provided under the lease or property contract, not including loss or restriction of medical staff privileges or exclusion from a provider panel, if the sanctioned health care provider participates under this chapter while on the premises of a prohibiting health care provider's health care facility or on the property that is owned by or under the direct control of the prohibiting health care provider;
(3) Termination of an employment contract or other nonmonetary remedies provided by contract if the sanctioned health care provider participates under this chapter in the course and scope of the sanctioned health care provider's duties as an employee or independent contractor of the prohibiting health care provider; or
(4) Any other sanctions and penalties in accordance with the prohibiting health care provider's policies and practices; provided, that no sanctions or penalties shall be imposed under this paragraph without a procedure for contesting the sections and penalties.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent:
(1) A health care provider from participating under this chapter while acting outside the course and scope of the health care provider's duties as an employee or independent contractor of the prohibiting health care provider;
(2) A patient from contracting with his or her attending physician and consulting physician to act outside the course and scope of the health care provider's duties as an employee or independent contractor of the prohibiting health care provider;
(3) A health care provider from making an initial determination pursuant to the standard of care that a patient has a terminal disease and informing him or her of the medical prognosis;
(4) A health care provider from providing information about this chapter upon the request of the patient; or
(5) A health care provider from providing a patient, upon request, with a referral to another health care provider.
(f) Sanctions issued pursuant to subsection (d) of this section are not reportable under § 3-1205.13(a)(4)(C).
§ 7–661.11. Immunities, liabilities, and exceptions.
(a) Except as provided in § 7-661.10, no person shall be subject to civil or criminal liability or professional disciplinary action for:
(1) Participating in good faith compliance with this chapter;
(2) Refusing to participate in providing a covered medication under this chapter; or
(3) Being present when a qualified patient takes a covered medication.
(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted to lower the applicable standard of care for the attending physician, consulting physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other health care provider participating in this chapter.
(c) No request by a patient for a covered medication made in good-faith compliance with the provisions of this chapter shall provide the basis for the appointment of a guardian or conservator.
§ 7–661.12. Claims by District government for costs incurred.
If the District government incurs costs resulting from the death of a qualified patient ingesting a covered medication pursuant to this chapter in a public place, the District government shall have a claim against the estate of the qualified patient to recover such costs and reasonable attorney fees related to enforcing the claim.
§ 7–661.13. Penalties.
(a) A person who, without authorization of the patient, willfully alters or forges a request for a covered medication or conceals or destroys a rescission of a request for a covered medication with the intent or effect of causing the patient's death is punishable as a Class A felony.
(b) A person who, without authorization of the patient, willfully coerces or exerts undue influence on a patient to request or ingest a covered medication with the intent or effect of causing the patient's death is punishable as a Class A felony.
§ 7–661.14. Rules.
(a) The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, shall issue rules to:
(1) Develop the form to collect the medical record information required by § 7-661.06;
(2) Facilitate the collection of the medical record information required by § 7-661.06; and
(3) Provide for the return of and safe disposal of unused covered medications.
(b) The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, may issue rules to implement the provisions of this chapter, including rules to:
(1) Specify the recommended methods by which a qualified patient, who so desires, may notify first responders of his or her intent to ingest a covered medication; and
(2) Establish training opportunities for the medical community to learn about the use of covered medications by qualified patients seeking to die in a humane and peaceful manner, including best practices for prescribing the covered medication.
§ 7–661.15. Construction.
(a) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to authorize a physician or any other person to end a patient's life by lethal injection, mercy killing, active euthanasia, or any other method or medication not authorized under this chapter.
(b) Actions taken in accordance with this chapter do not constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing, or homicide.
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize a qualified patient to ingest a covered medication in a public place.
§ 7–661.16. Freedom of Information Act exemption.
The information collected by the Department pursuant to this chapter shall not be a public record and may not be made available for inspection by the public under subchapter II of Chapter 5 of Title 2, or any other law.
§ 7–661.17. Applicability. [Repealed]
Repealed.
