State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester, is bringing forth legislation addressing what's known as "physician assisted suicide."

Comerford filed the bill, known as "An Act Relative to End of Life Options." It would allow a terminally ill patient to choose what Comerford describes as a dignified, peaceful death by requesting medication from a doctor. The medicine would be self-administered at a time of a patient's choosing.

Comerford said estimates right now show roughly 80% of people in Massachusetts support such legislation. She described it as a "long overdue action," but said the bill also addresses elements like hospice care.

"If we as compassionate people in the Commonwealth have the ability to shorten or alleviate suffering, we should, we should do that,” Comerford said. “Again, it's a compassionate framework here that we're going for. So, this bill actually foregrounds a process by which the person would be given an entire suite of options for them as they look for themselves and their loved ones on their last days. That's really important."

State voters shot down a ballot question on physician assisted suicide in 2012. A hearing on Comerford’s bill is scheduled for Friday at the State House.

The Diocese of Worcester and the Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts oppose the bill, saying a diagnosis could be wrong and lawmakers should be working on how to provide better health care.

"It is an affront to life and a dangerous precedent for determining end of life issues,” the groups said in a statement. “Physicians are trained to care for the ill, not to hasten death.”