Push for end-of-life bill will continue in 2024

Dec. 29—ST. PAUL — Minnesota might be the newest state to enact end-of-life legislation for terminally ill adults if Sen. Liz Boldon gets her way.

Boldon, DFL-Rochester, helped introduce House File

1930

, in conjunction with Senate File

1813

, known as the

End of Life Option Act

. The companion bills would let terminally ill adults have the option to choose medical aid in dying, also known as physician-assisted suicide.

The proposed statute was modeled after a similar bill in Oregon passed more than two decades ago.

While the bill was not passed during the last session, Boldon said she continues to hear from constituents that it should move forward.

"I hope that we can continue to move it forward and continue the conversation, and I certainly will be advocating for that," she said.

More than 73% of people polled during the 2023 Minnesota State Fair

favored the proposal

.

The House version of the bill has 19 authors, including Rep. Andy Smith, DFL-Rochester. Boldon is one of five Senate authors.

If made law, Minnesota's End of Life Option Act would be available to adults diagnosed with a terminal illness who have been given a prognosis of six months or less to live. The patient can request a prescription for life-ending medication, and two medical providers would work with the patient to ensure that they are fully informed and can consent to the procedure.

For Boldon, a nurse, the proposal underscores her belief that patients should have the autonomy to make their health care decisions.

"This bill is really about people being able to make decisions about their own death," she said.

However, end-of-life legislation does not come without its fair share of opposition. The American Medical Association even issued an opinion in opposition to the practice.

"Physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician's role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control, and would pose serious societal risks," the association wrote.

Disability advocates also warn of the practice, saying that those with intellectual disabilities may be

unfairly pressured to commit suicide

.

However, some advocacy groups would support medical aid in dying as long as the

patient is terminally ill and mentally competent

, even if they do have intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Boldon said she wants to ensure people with intellectual disabilities are protected, and that the bill does not apply to them.

"I certainly hope we have a hearing on it and that we're able to hear from people and have that debate in committee," she said.

Without legislation like this, patients will still die, either by their own hand or in hospice care, according to Geoff Sugerman, national political strategist for Death with Dignity, an advocacy group for end-of-life legislation.

"A person gets to that end stage where they qualify for hospice, and they're in pain, and they're suffering, and their doctor just keeps giving them more and more medication until they are in a coma and die," Sugerman said.

"This is about patients being able to make that decision about when and how they want to die at the very end of their life and not do so in a way that is violent," he said.