A bill commonly referred to as assisted suicide has been introduced in the Nevada Senate.
Terminally ill adult patients, as long as they are mentally competent and able to self-administer the drugs, can request life-ending drugs if their condition is likely to result in death within six months. Another stipulation in the bill is that at least two doctors would have to verify the diagnosis.
Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, introduced a similar bill in the 2016 Legislature, but was blocked by Republicans in conrol of the Senate.
Five states — California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont and Washington — allow physicians to aid in the dying of terminally ill patients, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In Montana, a court ruling protects doctors from prosecution for helping dying patients end their lives.
SB261 was referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.