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HB 2188

Establishes the "Marilyn Teitelbaum Death with Dignity Act"

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lilly Fuchs and 2 co-sponsors

Missouri would establish a legal framework for physician-assisted death, outlining eligibility, procedures, safeguards, and oversight under the Marilyn Teitelbaum Death with Dignit

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
#healthcare #healthcareprofessionals #physicians
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Bill Summary · HB 2188

Bill Overview

HB 2188, introduced in the Missouri 2026 session and titled the Marilyn Teitelbaum Death with Dignity Act, adds provisions related to death with dignity in the state. The bill has been prefiled and moved through initial readings, with co-sponsors Lilly Fuchs, Ian Mackey, and Marty Murray.

Main Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes a statutory framework for physician-assisted death (death with dignity) within Missouri.
  • Creates a named-act recognition (Marilyn Teitelbaum Death with Dignity Act) intended to regulate the conditions, processes, and safeguards surrounding end-of-life decisions in specific circumstances.

Key Provisions and Changes

Note: The exact text of provisions is not provided in the summary, but the bill’s purpose indicates several typical elements of death-with-dignity legislation. Based on common structure in similar acts, anticipated areas likely addressed include:
- Eligibility Criteria for Patients:
- A terminal illness with a prognosis of a limited life expectancy.
- Adult patients (likely 18 or older) capable of making informed decisions.
- Practitioner and Medication Requirements:
- Qualified physicians or clinicians who can assess and confirm diagnosis, prognosis, mental competency, and informed consent.
- Procedures for prescribing or dispensing life-ending medications.
- Safeguards:
- Mandatory waiting periods between request and final action.
- Multiple requests (written and oral) and a determination of patient competency.
- Documentation requirements and witness attestations.
- Obligation to discuss alternatives, such as palliative care and hospice.
- Roles and Oversight:
- State agency or designated authority responsible for oversight, reporting, and compliance.
- Mechanisms for complaint adjudication and enforcement actions for noncompliance.
- Documentation and Records:
- Mandatory recording of the patient’s request, medical determinations, and actions taken.
- Protections and Limitations:
- Protections for physicians acting in good faith within the law, and potential limitations or prohibitions on certain methods or settings.
- Potential exclusion of certain patients (e.g., those lacking decisional capacity without a surrogate) or settings (e.g., certain facilities).
- Public Education and Access:
- Provisions may address patient awareness of options, including palliative care and hospice services.

Because the bill’s text is not included here, the above reflects typical components of death-with-dignity statutes and the bill’s title and intent.

Who Would Be Affected

  • End-of-life patients in Missouri who meet the bill’s eligibility criteria.
  • Licensed physicians and qualified healthcare providers involved in evaluating and administering or prescribing life-ending medications.
  • Medical facilities and hospitals where end-of-life care decisions are made.
  • State medical boards or supervisory agencies responsible for oversight, reporting, and enforcement.
  • Families or legal surrogates of patients, in terms of support and notification requirements.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Prefiled: December 4, 2025
  • Read First Time: January 7, 2026
  • Read Second Time: January 8, 2026
  • Referred to Committee: Emerging Issues (H) on May 15, 2026
  • Next steps (typical): Committee hearings, potential amendments, floor debate, and votes in the House, followed by alignment with the Senate if passed.

Notes and Considerations

  • The summary reflects the bill’s title and the standard structure of similar death-with-dignity statutes. For precise definitions, eligibility criteria, procedural steps, safeguards, and enforcement mechanisms, the bill’s actual text should be consulted.
  • Stakeholders may include patients seeking end-of-life options, healthcare providers, bioethics experts, patient advocates, and legal professionals, all focusing on safety, ethics, patient autonomy, and safeguards.

If you’d like, I can integrate the exact language from the bill’s text (when available) to provide a more precise point-by-point summary of each provision.

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

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