« Go Back   « Go Back
Summary of Question 2
This proposed law would allow a physician licensed in Massachusetts to prescribe medication, at a terminally ill patient's request, to end that patient's life. To qualify, a patient would have to be an adult resident who (1) is medically determined to be mentally capable of making and communicating health care decisions; (2) has been diagnosed by attending and consulting physicians as having an incurable, irreversible disease that will, within reasonable medical judgment, cause death within six months; and (3) voluntarily expresses a wish to die and has made an informed decision. The proposed law states that the patient would ingest the medicine in order to cause death in a humane and dignified manner. The proposed law would require the patient, directly or through a person familiar with the patient's manner of communicating, to orally communicate to a physician on two occasions, 15 days apart, the patient's request for the medication. At the time of the second request, the physician would have to offer the patient an opportunity to rescind the request. The patient would also have to sign a standard form, in the presence of two witnesses, one of whom is not a relative, a beneficiary of the patient's estate, or an owner, operator, or employee of a health care facility where the patient receives treatment or lives. The proposed law would require the attending physician to: (1) determine if the patient is qualified; (2) inform the patient of his or her medical diagnosis and prognosis, the potential risks and probable result of ingesting the medication, and the feasible alternatives, including comfort care, hospice care and pain control; (3) refer the patient to a consulting physician for a diagnosis and prognosis regarding the patient's disease, and confirmation in writing that the patient is capable, acting voluntarily, and making an informed decision; (4) refer the patient for psychiatric or psychological consultation if the physician believes the patient may have a disorder causing impaired judgment; (5) recommend that the patient notify next of kin of the patient's intention; (6) recommend that the patient have another person present when the patient ingests the medicine and to not take it in a public place; (7) inform the patient that he or she may rescind the request at any time; (8) write the prescription when the requirements of the law are met, including verifying that the patient is making an informed decision; and (9) arrange for the medicine to be dispensed directly to the patient, or the patient's agent, but not by mail or courier. The proposed law would make it punishable by imprisonment and/or fines, for anyone to (1) coerce a patient to request medication, (2) forge a request, or (3) conceal a rescission of a request. The proposed law would not authorize ending a patient's life by lethal injection, active euthanasia, or mercy killing. The death certificate would list the underlying terminal disease as the cause of death. Participation under the proposed law would be voluntary. An unwilling health care provider could prohibit or sanction another health care provider for participating while on the premises of, or while acting as an employee of or contractor for, the unwilling provider. The proposed law states that no person would be civilly or criminally liable or subject to professional discipline for actions that comply with the law, including actions taken in good faith that substantially comply. It also states that it should not be interpreted to lower the applicable standard of care for any health care provider. A person's decision to make or rescind a request could not be restricted by will or contract made on or after January 1, 2013, and could not be considered in issuing, or setting the rates for, insurance policies or annuities. Also, the proposed law would require the attending physician to report each case in which life-ending medication is dispensed to the state Department of Public Health. The Department would provide public access to statistical data compiled from the reports. The proposed law states that if any of its parts was held invalid, the other parts would stay in effect.

2012 - Norfolk County - Question 2Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives on or before May 1, 2012?

View as: # | %

Norfolk County Results
« Return to Aggregate Results

 
City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
163,224
176,839
18,200 358,263
Avon
 
991
1,345
77
2,413
Bellingham More »
 
2,524
4,343
1,717
8,584
Braintree More »
 
7,860
10,920
891
19,671
Brookline More »
 
18,187
9,020
1,582
28,789
Canton More »
 
5,689
6,391
391
12,471
Cohasset More »
 
2,378
2,372
168
4,918
Dedham More »
 
6,056
6,968
742
13,766
Dover
 
1,928
1,548
117
3,593
Foxborough More »
 
4,455
5,064
264
9,783
Franklin More »
 
7,969
8,919
658
17,546
Holbrook More »
 
2,178
3,070
298
5,546
Medfield More »
 
3,443
3,693
334
7,470
Medway More »
 
3,400
3,704
191
7,295
Millis More »
 
2,360
2,288
127
4,775
Milton More »
 
6,675
8,652
640
15,967
Needham More »
 
8,799
7,688
939
17,426
Norfolk More »
 
2,791
2,804
146
5,741
Norwood More »
 
5,943
8,276
721
14,940
Plainville More »
 
2,130
2,223
135
4,488
Quincy More »
 
17,194
20,202
3,238
40,634
Randolph More »
 
5,094
8,879
1,218
15,191
Sharon More »
 
6,085
4,059
254
10,398
Stoughton More »
 
5,818
7,577
594
13,989
Walpole More »
 
6,108
7,615
380
14,103
Wellesley More »
 
8,107
6,182
892
15,181
Westwood More »
 
4,177
4,534
418
9,129
Weymouth More »
 
11,912
15,276
901
28,089
Wrentham More »
 
2,973
3,227
167
6,367
County Totals
163,224
176,839
18,200 358,263