Arizona ‘End of Life Health Care Provider Rights of Conscience’ Bill (SB 1439)

This law was last updated on Oct 31, 2017

State

Arizona

Number

SB 1439

Status

Current

Proposed

Jan 31, 2017

Topics

Conscience and Refusal Clauses, Religious Freedom

Full Bill Text

apps.azleg.gov

SB 1439 would prohibit the state from discriminating against a health-care provider for declining to provide health-care items or services that may cause or assist in causing a patient’s death.

The bill would prohibit the state from taking or threatening any adverse action against a health-care provider for declining to provide, assist in providing, or facilitate in providing any health-care service for the purpose of causing or assisting in causing the death of any individual, such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.

The bill prohibits a health-care entity from being held liable in any civil, criminal or administrative action for declining to provide any health-care item or service for the purpose of causing or assisting in causing the death of any individual.

This would not apply to the withholding of CPR for a patient with a valid medical directive.

There is currently no right-to-die law in Arizona.

STATUS

Passed the senate on February 22, 2017, by a 17-13 vote.

Passed the house on March 21, 2017, by a 32-24 vote.

Signed by Gov. Doug Ducey (R) on March 24, 2017.