Starting on June 9 terminally ill Californians will be able to end their own lives with the assistance of a physician. “The legislation, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last October after years of contentious battles over end-of-life options, marks a new era for California patients and physicians.” This new legislation will impose strict protocols, and patients will be able to obtain a lethal prescription from a doctor. There are already similar measures in place in Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Physician assisted suicide is a controversial topic and there are very strong feelings on both sides of the debate. This issue will likely become even more important in the future as more states consider legislation that is similar to what has been adopted in the states that already allow this practice.
See Claudia Buck, A better way to die? California’s end-of-life law launches June 9, The Sacramento Bee, May 5, 2016.
Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.
