Update on end-of-life options legislation in Minnesota
In a significant development after nearly a decade, there is movement on a bill in Minnesota that seeks to grant terminally ill individuals the choice to end their lives on their own terms.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – After a hiatus of nine years, a breakthrough has been achieved in advancing a bill that would provide terminally ill patients with the option to access medication that would facilitate a peaceful passing.
This initiative was initially introduced in 2015 but faced hurdles in progressing further, failing to secure hearings in any committees until this year.
Ellen Kennedy, whose husband Leigh Lawton battled against multiple myeloma for three years, expressed how his suffering reached a point where he desired a dignified end. She shared, “He was prepared to depart when his essence of life, as he perceived it, had faded away. However, due to the absence of end-of-life choices, his sense of self gradually diminished over 16 agonizing days.”
Following her husband’s ordeal, Kennedy has taken up the cause to advocate for legalizing medical assistance for individuals seeking a swifter exit from their suffering.
The recent debate surrounding the bill revolved around the classification of the act as “suicide.” While some argued that suicide stems from a mental health crisis leading individuals to impulsively take their own lives, others, like Dr. Dennis O’Hare, contended that any definition of suicide would encompass this scenario.
Under the proposed Minnesota legislation, adults diagnosed with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less would be eligible for medical aid in dying. It is imperative that these individuals possess the mental capacity to make decisions regarding their healthcare, thereby excluding dementia patients. Additionally, they must have the physical capability to self-administer the prescribed medication.
The bill mandates confirmation from two medical professionals that the patient meets the criteria and is not under any form of coercion, although coercion can sometimes be imperceptible, as noted by a Maple Grove attorney.
Expressing reservations about the bill, a geriatrician specializing in end-of-life care highlighted the discomfort among physicians when it comes to prescribing lethal doses of medication. Dr. O’Hare emphasized that healthcare providers routinely administer medications to alleviate end-of-life symptoms without the need for such legislation.
The bill’s sponsor in the House is Rep. Mike Freiberg, DFL-Golden Valley, who emphasizes that the legislation does not compel anyone, including medical practitioners, to participate. He also underscores the absence of evidence indicating abuse or a surge in suicides in the ten other states that have enacted similar laws.
While the corresponding Senate bill is pending committee hearings, its schedule has not yet been confirmed.