Michigan Democrats, including Ann Arbor-area Rep. Carrie Rheingans, have introduced legislation that would legalize medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults, creating what supporters call a “Death With Dignity” framework in the state.
House Bills 5825 through 5828, introduced April 21, would allow mentally capable adults diagnosed with a terminal illness expected to cause death within six months to request prescription medication to end their lives. The legislation includes waiting periods, witness requirements, multiple physician reviews and criminal penalties for coercion or fraud.
The proposal would mark a major change in Michigan law. Assisted suicide is currently illegal in Michigan, though the legislation would repeal portions of existing state law criminalizing the practice.
The main bill, HB 5825, was introduced by Reps. Edwards, Miller, B. Carter, Paiz, Rheingans and Steckloff.
Under the proposal, patients seeking life-ending medication would need to:
- be at least 18 years old,
- be deemed mentally capable of making medical decisions,
- have a terminal illness expected to result in death within six months,
- make both oral and written requests,
- and receive confirmation from both an attending physician and a consulting physician.
The legislation also establishes mandatory waiting periods. Patients would need to make two oral requests separated by at least 15 days, plus a written request witnessed by two people. Patients could rescind the request at any time.
If either physician believes a patient may be suffering from impaired judgment caused by depression or another psychological disorder, the patient would have to undergo counseling before receiving a prescription.
The bill specifically states that it would not authorize euthanasia or lethal injection by a physician. Instead, the patient would have to self-administer the medication.
The legislation further states that actions taken under the law “do not, for any purpose, constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing, or homicide under the law.”
The legislation includes documentation requirements, annual reviews by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and criminal penalties for coercion or forgery. Under the bill, a person convicted of coercing someone into requesting life-ending medication could face up to 20 years in prison and a $375,000 fine.
The broader legislative package would also make related changes to state healthcare licensing, criminal sentencing and insurance law.
Multiple states, including Oregon, Washington, California and Colorado, have legalized medical aid in dying.
The bills were referred to the Michigan House Committee on Government Operations.
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