The short title of this article is the “Colorado End-of-life Options Act”. Source: Initiated 2016: Entire article added, Proposition 106, L. 2017, p. 2802 , § 1, effective upon proclamation of the Governor, December 16, 2016.
As used in this article 48, unless the context otherwise requires: “Adult” means an individual who is eighteen years of age or older. “Attending physician” means a physician who has primary responsibility for the care of a terminally ill individual and the treatment of the individual’s terminal illness. “Consulting physician” means a physician who is […]
An adult resident of Colorado may make a request, in accordance with sections 25-48-104 and 25-48-112, to receive a prescription for medical aid-in-dying medication if: The individual’s attending physician has diagnosed the individual with a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less; The individual’s attending physician has determined the individual has mental […]
In order to receive a prescription for medical aid-in-dying medication pursuant to this article, an individual who satisfies the requirements in section 25-48-103 must make two oral requests, separated by at least fifteen days, and a valid written request to his or her attending physician. To be valid, a written request for medical aid-in-dying medication […]
At any time, an individual may rescind his or her request for medical aid-in-dying medication without regard to the individual’s mental state. An attending physician shall not write a prescription for medical aid-in-dying medication under this article unless the attending physician offers the qualified individual an opportunity to rescind the request for the medical aid-in-dying […]
The attending physician shall: Make the initial determination of whether an individual requesting medical aid-in- dying medication has a terminal illness, has a prognosis of six months or less, is mentally capable, is making an informed decision, and has made the request voluntarily; Request that the individual demonstrate Colorado residency by providing documentation as described […]
Before an individual who is requesting medical aid-in-dying medication may receive a prescription for the medical aid-in-dying medication, a consulting physician must: Examine the individual and his or her relevant medical records; Confirm, in writing, to the attending physician: That the individual has a terminal illness; The individual has a prognosis of six months or […]
An attending physician shall not prescribe medical aid-in-dying medication under this article for an individual with a terminal illness until the individual is determined to be mentally capable and making an informed decision, and those determinations are confirmed in accordance with this section. If the attending physician or the consulting physician believes that the individual […]
Unless otherwise prohibited by law, the attending physician or the hospice medical director shall sign the death certificate of a qualified individual who obtained and self-administered aid-in-dying medication. When a death has occurred in accordance with this article, the cause of death shall be listed as the underlying terminal illness and the death does not […]
An individual with a terminal illness is not a qualified individual and may not receive a prescription for medical aid-in-dying medication unless he or she has made an informed decision. Immediately before writing a prescription for medical aid-in-dying medication under this article, the attending physician shall verify that the individual with a terminal illness is […]
The attending physician shall document in the individual’s medical record, the following information: Dates of all oral requests; A valid written request; The attending physician’s diagnosis and prognosis, determination of mental capacity and that the individual is making a voluntary request and an informed decision; The consulting physician’s confirmation of diagnosis and prognosis, mental capacity […]
A request for medical aid-in-dying medication authorized by this article must be in substantially the following form: Request for medication to end my life in a peaceful manner I, am an adult of sound mind. I am suffering from , which my attending physician has determined is a terminal illness and which has been medically […]
Physicians and health-care providers shall provide medical services under this act that meet or exceed the standard of care for end-of-life medical care. If a health-care provider is unable or unwilling to carry out an eligible individual’s request and the individual transfers care to a new health-care provider, the health-care provider shall coordinate transfer of […]
A provision in a contract, will, or other agreement, whether written or oral, that would affect whether an individual may make or rescind a request for medical aid in dying pursuant to this article is invalid. An obligation owing under any currently existing contract must not be conditioned upon, or affected by, an individual’s act […]
The sale, procurement, or issuance of, or the rate charged for, any life, health, or accident insurance or annuity policy must not be conditioned upon, or affected by, an individual’s act of making or rescinding a request for medical aid-in-dying medication in accordance with this article. A qualified individual’s act of self-administering medical aid-in-dying medication […]
A person is not subject to civil or criminal liability or professional disciplinary action for acting in good faith under this article, which includes being present when a qualified individual self-administers the prescribed medical aid-in-dying medication. Except as provided for in section 25-48-118, a health-care provider or professional organization or association shall not subject an […]
A health-care provider may choose whether to participate in providing medical aid-in-dying medication to an individual in accordance with this article. If a health-care provider is unable or unwilling to carry out an individual’s request for medical aid-in-dying medication made in accordance with this article, and the individual transfers his or her care to a […]
A health-care facility may prohibit a physician employed or under contract from writing a prescription for medical aid-in-dying medication for a qualified individual who intends to use the medical aid-in-dying medication on the facility’s premises. The health- care facility must notify the physician in writing of its policy with regard to prescriptions for medical aid-in-dying […]
A person commits a class 2 felony and is subject to punishment in accordance with section 18-1.3-401, C.R.S. if the person, knowingly or intentionally causes an individual’s death by: Forging or altering a request for medical aid-in-dying medication to end an individual’s life without the individual’s authorization; or Concealing or destroying a rescission of a […]
A person who has custody or control of medical aid-in-dying medication dispensed under this article that the terminally ill individual decides not to use or that remains unused after the terminally ill individual’s death shall dispose of the unused medical aid-in- dying medication either by: Returning the unused medical aid-in-dying medication to the attending physician […]
