URGENT DE NP Message
Posted 8 months ago by Susan Conaty-Buck
Dear DCNP Members
Delaware House Bill 140 the End of Life Options bill which allows an adult who is diagnosed with a terminal illness and expected to die within six months to request prescription drugs from a doctor or advanced practice registered nurse to end his or her life. This bill is being debated TODAY in the DE House of Representatives. CALL OR EMAIL YOUR HOUSE MEMBER THIS MORNING TO HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD.
The DCNP Board of Directors has discussed this bill extensively and has voted for DCNP to support this Legislation. The DCNP Board believes Nurse Practitioners should have the right to provide or decline to offer this care for their patients the same way they have the right to provide all other care. The point is with the passage of this legislation, the NP will have the opportunity to choose the care they provide to their patient.
A consulting physician or APRN nurse would have to confirm the diagnosis and prognosis. The patient would have to be evaluated by a psychiatrist or a psychologist if any of the medical professionals involved is concerned that he or she lacks decision-making capacity. In addition, no other person—such as a guardian or surrogate healthcare decision-maker—may make a request for aid-in-dying medication on behalf of the patient. Nor can the patient request aid-in-dying medication in an advance health care directive. There are safeguards in the bill such requiring the patient make two oral requests for a lethal prescription, followed by a written request, and waiting at least 15 days after the initial request before receiving the drugs. The bill also states that any physician or APRN who prescribes this prescription could not considered for violating elder abuse, assisted-suicide, homicide, or euthanasia laws.