New Hampshire
House Bill
No. 0304 (2009)
Death with Dignity Act
Note: This was a bill to legalize assisted suicide [
Full
Text]. It included the following protection of conscience provisions. On 10 November, 2009 the House Judiciary Committee reported it was "inexpedient to legislate."
Chapter 137-L | Death with Dignity Act
137-L:14 Immunities.
Except as provided in RSA 137-L:15:
I. No person shall be subject to civil or criminal liability or
professional disciplinary action for participating in good faith compliance
with this chapter. This includes being present when a qualified patient
takes the prescribed medication to end the patient's life in a humane and
dignified manner.
II. No professional organization or association, or health care provider,
may subject a person to censure, discipline, suspension, loss of license,
loss of privileges, loss of membership, or other penalty for participating
or refusing to participate in good faith compliance with this chapter.
III. No request by a patient for or provision by an attending physician
of medication in good faith compliance with the provisions of this chapter
shall constitute neglect for any purpose of law or provide the sole basis
for the appointment of a guardian or conservator.
IV. No health care provider shall be under any duty, whether by contract,
by statute or by any other legal requirement to participate in the provision
to a qualified patient of medication to end the patient's life in a humane
and dignified manner. If a health care provider is unable or unwilling to
carry out a patient's request under this chapter, and the patient transfers
such patient's care to a new health care provider, the prior health care
provider shall transfer, upon request, a copy of the patient's relevant
medical records to the new health care provider.