Massachusetts palliative care and end-of-life counseling rights
Massachusetts law requires attending health care practitioners to offer certain terminally ill patients information and counseling about palliative care and end-of-life options.
Massachusetts · Effective · Effective Aug 6, 2012
What it is
- What changed
- Massachusetts law creates a patient-information pathway around palliative care and end-of-life options for certain terminally ill patients.
- Why it matters
- Caregivers often need earlier, clearer conversations about goals, symptom management, hospice, palliative care, and care setting choices before a crisis discharge.
- Who it touches
- Family caregivers, Care providers and plans, People receiving care, Businesses and agencies that must complyterminally ill patients, family caregivers, clinicians, hospice teams, palliative care providers
- What it does
- Gives people a right or protection
Sources
Last reviewed Jun 18, 2026. This is information, not legal advice; check the source for the current text.