Supporters of legislation that would allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults the right to self-administer life-ending drugs say the bill has stalled on Beacon Hill.
On Tuesday the Public Health Committee recommended the bill be sent to a study committee, a common way of essentially ensuring no action will be taken before the end of the formal session.
The legislation would require the terminally ill to fill out a form stating they understand that the drugs they are requesting from their doctors are intended to result in death.
The terminally ill person must also be competent and acting voluntarily — and the request would have to be witnessed by at least two other individuals.
In 2012, a ballot question that would also have allowed patients to self-administer life-ending drugs prescribed by physicians was narrowly defeated.
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