End of life option act
DEFINITION:
The End of Life Option Act allows a qualified patient who has obtained an aid-in-dying drug to end their life. The following guidelines are provided for EMS personnel when responding to a patient who has self-administered an aid-in-dying drug as applied to the END OF LIFE OPTION ACT.
Within 48 hours prior to self-administering the aid-in-dying drug, the patient is required to complete a “Final Attestation for An Aid-In-Dying to End My Life in a Humane and Dignified Manner”. However, there is no mandate for the patient to maintain the final attestation in close proximity of the patient. If a copy of the final attestation is available, EMS personnel should confirm the patient is the person named in the final attestation. This will normally require either the presence of a form of identification or a witness who can reliably identify the patient.
There are no standardized “Final Attestation for An Aid-In-Dying to End My Life in a Humane and Dignified Manner” forms but the law has required specific information that must be in the final attestation. If available, EMS personnel should make a good faith effort to review and verify that the final attestation contains the following information:
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The document is identified as a “Final Attestation for An Aid-In-Dying to End My Life in a Humane and Dignified Manner”.
- Patient’s name, signature and dated.
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Provide comfort measures (airway positioning, suctioning) and / or airway/ventilation measures when applicable.
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Withhold resuscitation measures if patient is in cardiopulmonary arrest. If a POLST or AHCD is present, follow the directive as appropriate for the clinical situation.
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The patient may at any time withdraw or rescind his or her request for an aid-in-dying drug regardless of the patient’s mental state. In this instance, EMS personnel shall provide medical care based on the discussion with the patient and as per standard protocols. EMS personnel are encouraged to consult with their Base Hospital in these situations.
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Family members may be at the scene of a patient who has self-administered an aid-in-dying drug. If there is objection to the End of Life Option Act, inform the family that comfort measures will be provided and consider Base Hospital Contact for further direction.
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Obtain a copy of the final attestation if possible and photograph into the ePCR documentation.