Arkansas House Rejects Bad End-of-Life Legislation

*Rep. Gazaway testifies against H.B. 1685 on the floor of the House.*

On Wednesday the Arkansas House Representatives rejected two bad pieces of end-of-life legislation.

The first was H.B. 1685.

This bad bill lets healthcare workers who are not physicians work through end-of-life decisions with patients and family members. It does not require healthcare workers making these decisions to have appropriate training in end-of-life care. It makes it easier to deny a dying person food or water. Read H.B. 1685 Here.

H.B. 1685 received 31 votes. Fifty-five representatives voted against it.

The second was H.B. 1686.

This bad bill lets healthcare workers who are not physicians complete Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms. It removes an important provision in state law that says a POLST form is not intended to replace an advance directive. It inadvertently prevents consulting physicians — such as palliative care physicians — from completing POLST forms with patients. Read H.B. 1686 Here.

H.B. 1686 received 38 votes. Forty-eight representatives voted against it.

Both bills were opposed by several different groups, including: