- A new Washington law aims to make it easier for patients to access aid-in-dying services under the state’s Death with Dignity Act. A measure Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law earlier this month will cut down the wait time between when patients first ask for life-ending medication and when they can receive it. The new law also will let more kinds of health care providers sign off on requests for a medically assisted death and allow the necessary drugs to be mailed to patients instead of picked up in person. (Article here)
- North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum signed into law a near-total ban on abortion with minimal exceptions in instances of rape, incest, or medical emergency for up to six weeks of pregnancy, one of the strictest abortion bans in the country. Burgum said in a statement that the bill “reaffirms North Dakota as a pro-life state.” The North Dakota law is designed to take effect immediately, but last month the state Supreme Court ruled that a previous ban is to remain blocked while a lawsuit over its constitutionality proceeds. Last week, lawmakers said they intended to pass the latest bill as a message to the state’s high court, signaling that the people of North Dakota want to restrict abortion. (Article here)
April 25, 2023
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