§ 443.17

(a) Knowingly altering or forging a request for an aid-in-dying drug to end an individual’s life without their authorization or concealing or destroying a withdrawal or rescission of a request for an aid-in-dying drug is punishable as a felony if the act is done with the intent or effect of causing the individual’s death.

(b) Knowingly coercing or exerting undue influence on an individual to request or ingest an aid-in-dying drug for the purpose of ending their life or to destroy a withdrawal or rescission of a request, or to administer an aid-in-dying drug to an individual without their knowledge or consent, is punishable as a felony.

(c) For purposes of this section, “knowingly” has the meaning provided in Section 7 of the Penal Code.

(d) The attending physician, consulting physician, or mental health specialist shall not be related to the individual by blood, marriage, registered domestic partnership, or adoption, or be entitled to a portion of the individual’s estate upon death.

(e) This section does not limit civil liability or damages arising from negligent conduct or intentional misconduct in carrying out actions otherwise authorized by this part by any person, health care provider, or health care entity.

(f) The penalties in this section do not preclude criminal penalties applicable under any law for conduct inconsistent with the provisions of this part.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 542, Sec. 8. (SB 380) Effective January 1, 2022.)