The Assembly Bill 346, which aims to legalize medical aid in dying for terminally ill patients, has passed a crucial vote despite Governor Joe Lombardo’s threat to veto it. The bill would allow competent and willing terminally ill individuals to self-administer life-ending medicines. It passed in the Assembly with a vote of 23-19.
During a nearly two-hour hearing in the Assembly Select Committee on End-of-Life Care on April 2, the bill’s requirements to test the willingness and competency of the individual, as well as create legal frameworks for providers and insurers, were discussed. Some medical providers and patient advocacy groups support the bill, while right-to-life, disability, and spiritual advocates believe there should be more safeguards and a focus on improving hospice care.
Governor Lombardo has stated that he would veto the bill again, citing improvements in palliative care services and advanced pain management as reasons for the bill being unnecessary. Despite the warning, the Assembly committee held a special vote to ensure AB 346 passed its first deadline of passing out of the committee, but it still needs approval from the Senate before heading to the governor’s desk.
The deadline for most bills to pass out of their house of origin is Tuesday, April 22. For more information, contact McKenna Ross at mross@reviewjournal.com and follow @mckenna_ross_ on X.
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