Governor Joe Lombardo of Nevada vetoed the “medical-aid-in-dying” bill, known as the end-of-life pill. This marks the 32nd bill he has vetoed this session, rejecting proposals from the Democrat-majority Nevada Legislature. Lombardo stated that the expansion of palliative care services and advancements in pain management render the provisions of Senate Bill 239 unnecessary. He cited the limited number of states and jurisdictions allowing similar end-of-life protocols as a reason for his discomfort in supporting the bill. SB239 generated significant discussion, with 262 comments in support and 632 comments against.
Despite the disparity, a poll by Compassion & Choices indicated that 82% of Nevadans support medical-aid-in-dying legislation. However, Governor Lombardo declined to meet with bill supporters and became the first governor to veto such a bill. Republican Assemblyman Toby Yurek expressed his support for the veto, emphasizing the protection of life. Sponsored by nine Democrats and co-sponsored by ten more, SB239 aimed to grant terminally ill Nevadans the ability to self-administer medication to end their lives, with measures in place to prevent undue influence and legal protections for medical personnel involved. The bill also prohibited insurance companies from denying coverage based on a patient’s interest in this end-of-life option. Although the bill did not specify the drug to be used, it clarified that the cause of death on the patient’s certificate would reflect the terminal condition and not be considered mercy killing, euthanasia, assisted suicide, or homicide according to the bill’s provisions.
