5 Dec 2008

American Samoa Senate unanimously passes right to die legislation

11:23 am on 5 December 2008

The American Samoa Senate has unanimously passed the right to die legislation in its final reading.

It now goes to the House of Representatives for final approval.

In the last Fono session, the House had rejected the bill.

The legislation lays out guidelines for health authorities to follow in the event a patient wants treatment withheld or when they want to die.

The territory's hospital is required under federal regulations to have such a law in place.