Legislation that would authorize physician-assisted suicide in Massachusetts cleared its first committee hurdle, this time more quickly than in the past thanks to a new House rule.
House members of the Joint Committee on Public Health on Friday favorably reported the bill (H 2505). Eight of 11 representatives on the panel supported it, including ranking GOP Rep. Hannah Kane of Shrewsbury.
Republican Rep. Justin Thurber of Somerset voted against advancing the bill, and Democrat Rep. Bruce Ayers of Quincy did not vote. The committee’s public poll results do not list any action by committee member Rep. Samantha Montaño of Boston…