PA To Mull Assisted Suicide Option For The Terminally Ill

HARRISBURG, PA — Terminally ill patients would be permitted to end their lives with assistance under a bill about to be introduced by a group of House Democrats.

The legislation is modeled after Oregon's Death With Dignity Act, which permits terminally ill individuals to self-administer a lethal dose of medication expressly prescribed by a physician for that purpose.

"Our legislation would legalize compassionate aid in dying for terminally ill Pennsylvanians," the lawmakers said in a statement.

"These individuals, facing unbearable and unrelieved suffering in their final days, would be able to request a prescription that would end their life in a dignified, humane manner that respects the individual’s autonomy and self-determination."

Sponsoring the legislation will be Carol Hill-Evans of York; Tarik Khan, Christopher Rabb and Jose Giral, all from Philadelphia; Melissa Shusterman of Chester County amd Mark Rozzi of Berks County.

According to Death With Dignity, an organization specializing in end-of-life advocacy and policy reform, 10 states and the District of Columbia already have such laws in place. Most people who have taken advantage of those laws have exhausted palliative care options and are enrolled in hospice.

The bill being introduced in Pennsylvania has strict eligibility requirements. The assisted suicide option would be open only to patients who are terminally ill with less than six months to live and prohibits the use for non-terminal physical and mental health issues.

"We cannot begin to fathom the pain and hardship an individual with terminal illness faces – pain that often lasts until their final day," the lawmakers said in their statement. "Pennsylvanians in this position deserve the ability to choose to end their life on their terms in a safe, medically approved way."