The Right to Die Debate Is Heating Up In California

In California, there is a pending lawsuit and a Senate bill revolving around a terminal persons right to die.  The lawsuit challenges California Penal Code section 401, which imposes a felony on those who “deliberately aid or advise or encourage another to commit suicide.”  The lawsuit was filed by a major California firm representing two plaintiffs who are suffering from advanced stages of terminal cancer. 

In the California legislature Senate Bill 128, which is called the End of Life Option Act, would legalize aid in dying.  The California Medical Association recently came out in support of this legislation becoming the first state medical association in the country to change its position on this issue.  There are currently four states that legally permit aid in dying.  A similar lawsuit has also been filed in the state of Tennessee. 

See Reni Angelova, Right To Die Campaign Heats Up In Courts And California Legislature, Courthouse News Service, May 20, 2015.

Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.