Gov. Brown signs California right-to-die measure

[tammywammy]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — In a rare personal message, California's 77-year-old governor provided insight into his deliberations before deciding to sign a bill allowing terminally ill Californians to legally take their own lives, reflecting on religion and self-determination as he weighed an emotionally fraught choice.

Gov. Jerry Brown, a lifelong Catholic and former Jesuit seminarian, said he consulted a Catholic bishop, two of his own doctors and friends "who take varied, contradictory and nuanced positions."

"In the end, I was left to reflect on what I would want in the face of my own death," wrote the Democratic governor, who has been treated for prostate cancer and melanoma. "I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain. I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill."

Brown's signature on the right-to-die legislation Monday capped an intensely personal debate that dominated much of this year's legislative session and divided lawmakers. Many lawmakers also drew on personal experience to explain their decisions to support or reject legislation making California the fifth state to allow terminally ill patients to use doctor-prescribed drugs to end their lives.

More at: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a580f42e5ffe48f0b71991272f0e972e/california-governor-signs-hard-won-right-die-legislation

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Thank you, Governor Brown!

This issue has so much in common with the right for a woman to have an abortion: Choice. It is not right for others to dictate what we can do in those situations.

We now have the right to end our lives when certain conditions are met.

It's a huge relief.

[cascadiance]

2. I'm thankful for this. Had talked earlier about moving my mom here to Oregon from California...

... in case as she gets closer to her time, she winds up in a lot of pain any time soon, since we had this and California has not had it. But the move itself might put her through a lot of stress and pain, not to mention expense. Now if that becomes necessary she can stay where she is in California if this is needed and not have to go through that. Thank you Mr. Brown.

[tammywammy]

3. I don't think my mom would do assisted suicide

We have talked, if she's diagnosed with cancer she's not going to do chemo or radiation.

[NV Whino]

4. Good move.

I was hoping for a measure like this before I reached that point.

[tammywammy]

5. kick