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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 - Worcester 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?

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Worcester County Results
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City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
161,282
192,545
17,041 370,868
Ashburnham
 
1,626
1,497
131
3,254
Athol More »
 
2,253
2,370
147
4,770
Auburn More »
 
3,845
4,699
328
8,872
Barre More »
 
1,328
1,340
40
2,708
Berlin
 
951
819
44
1,814
Blackstone More »
 
1,953
2,251
140
4,344
Bolton
 
1,693
1,336
57
3,086
Boylston
 
1,362
1,260
71
2,693
Brookfield
 
858
828
57
1,743
Charlton More »
 
3,061
3,486
199
6,746
Clinton More »
 
2,707
3,552
307
6,566
Douglas More »
 
2,189
2,233
122
4,544
Dudley More »
 
2,132
2,876
110
5,118
E. Brookfield
 
491
645
21
1,157
Fitchburg More »
 
5,735
8,002
816
14,553
Gardner More »
 
3,322
4,639
318
8,279
Grafton More »
 
4,562
4,759
209
9,530
Hardwick
 
691
608
23
1,322
Harvard
 
2,229
1,284
129
3,642
Holden More »
 
4,726
5,568
315
10,609
Hopedale
 
1,514
1,691
109
3,314
Hubbardston
 
1,248
1,253
130
2,631
Lancaster More »
 
1,650
1,972
121
3,743
Leicester More »
 
2,365
3,057
173
5,595
Leominster More »
 
7,588
10,336
849
18,773
Lunenburg More »
 
2,819
2,945
184
5,948
Mendon
 
1,713
1,665
60
3,438
Milford More »
 
5,484
6,969
498
12,951
Millbury More »
 
3,020
3,590
217
6,827
Millville
 
742
787
36
1,565
New Braintree
 
291
258
11
560
N. Brookfield
 
1,046
1,287
53
2,386
Northborough More »
 
4,068
4,088
354
8,510
Northbridge More »
 
3,153
4,332
244
7,729
Oakham
 
561
568
23
1,152
Oxford More »
 
2,753
3,642
148
6,543
Paxton
 
1,192
1,311
57
2,560
Petersham
 
450
354
18
822
Phillipston
 
493
446
16
955
Princeton
 
1,277
982
71
2,330
Royalston More »
 
405
255
18
678
Rutland More »
 
2,029
2,360
126
4,515
Shrewsbury More »
 
7,993
9,482
779
18,254
Southborough More »
 
3,123
2,567
177
5,867
Southbridge More »
 
2,199
4,041
493
6,733
Spencer More »
 
2,350
3,075
150
5,575
Sterling More »
 
2,284
2,408
151
4,843
Sturbridge More »
 
2,373
2,802
123
5,298
Sutton More »
 
2,500
2,716
186
5,402
Templeton More »
 
1,575
2,133
106
3,814
Upton More »
 
2,225
1,937
80
4,242
Uxbridge More »
 
3,146
3,851
225
7,222
Warren More »
 
1,042
1,166
120
2,328
Webster More »
 
2,738
3,790
234
6,762
W. Boylston More »
 
1,783
2,284
148
4,215
W. Brookfield
 
965
955
42
1,962
Westborough More »
 
4,533
4,275
449
9,257
Westminster More »
 
1,952
2,188
170
4,310
Winchendon More »
 
1,860
2,167
174
4,201
Worcester More »
 
23,066
32,508
6,134
61,708
County Totals
161,282
192,545
17,041 370,868