Doctors and Nurses
Assembly member Patty Berg (D-Eureka) amended legislation (AB 374) that would legalize physician-assisted suicide for some terminally ill patients. The amendments would reduce eligibility to people who have three months or less to live, compared with six months under the original bill (Bill Text, 5/25). The measure was re-referred to the Assembly Health Committee (Bill Status, 5/25).
AB 1436 by Assembly member Edward Hernandez (D-West Covina) would expand the scope of practice for nurse practitioners to permit them to admit and discharge patients from health facilities. The measure was amended to remove provisions that would eliminate existing physician oversight protocols for physician assistants (Bill Text, 5/30). The bill was re-referred to the Assembly Business and Professions Committee (Bill Status, 5/30).