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Bill

SD 1665

An Act relative to end of life options

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Barrett and 17 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill allowing terminally ill adults to request physician-assisted medication to end their lives with specified safeguards and eligibility requirements.

House concurred
0
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Bill Summary · SD 1665

Legislative bill overview

SD 1665 proposes to establish a medical aid in dying (MAID) framework in Massachusetts, allowing terminally ill adults to request and self-administer prescribed medication to end their lives. The bill would create eligibility criteria, safeguards, and procedural requirements for physicians and patients participating in this end-of-life option.

Why is this important

This legislation addresses end-of-life care choices for patients with terminal diagnoses, affecting decisions about death, dignity, and medical autonomy in one of the nation's most populous states. Massachusetts would join ten other states plus Washington D.C. with legalized medical aid in dying if passed, representing a significant shift in state health policy with implications for healthcare providers, patients, and families facing terminal illness.

Potential points of contention

  • Safeguard adequacy: Debate over whether proposed protections (waiting periods, mental competency evaluations, physician confirmation) sufficiently prevent abuse or coercion of vulnerable populations, including elderly or disabled individuals
  • Physician participation: Concerns from medical professionals about conscience protections, liability risks, and whether requirements might strain doctor-patient relationships or contradict the medical profession's healing mission
  • Equity and access: Questions about whether socioeconomic disparities could result in vulnerable populations choosing MAID due to inadequate palliative care, pain management, or financial resources rather than genuine preference

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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