BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         S.B. 497
                                                        By: Madla
                                        Health and Human Services
                                                          2-23-95
                                       Committee Report (Amended)
BACKGROUND

The Texas Natural Death Act was passed in the late 1980s,
concurrent with the federal Advance Directives legislation. 
Together these Acts created Texas' position on providing the right
to die to terminally ill individuals.  Texas law requires two
physicians to certify that an individual is indeed terminally ill
before the individual's directives can be rendered.  This two-physician clause may cause difficulty for these individuals,
particularly in rural areas where access to any physician may be
limited.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 497 redefines "qualified patient" to mean a
patient who has been diagnosed by one attending physician, rather
than two physicians.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 672.002(8), Health and Safety Code, to
redefine "qualified patient" to mean a patient who has been
diagnosed by the attending physician, rather than the attending
physician and one other physician.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 672.004, Health and Safety Code, to
authorize a written directive to physicians to include
certification of the terminal illness by one or more physicians. 
Sets forth the language for the directive.  

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.