California Legislature Approves Assisted Suicide

[Eugene]

Source: New York Times

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In a landmark victory for supporters of assisted suicide, the California State Legislature on Friday gave its final approval to a bill that would allow doctors to help terminally ill people end their own lives.

Four states — Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont — already allow physicians to prescribe life-ending medication to some patients. The California bill, which passed Friday in the State Senate by a vote of 23 to 14, will now go to Gov. Jerry Brown, who will roughly triple access to doctor-assisted suicide across the country if he signs it. Mr. Brown has given little indication of his intentions.

Leaders of the “death with dignity” movement said they hoped the passage of the California law could be a turning point.

The California bill is modeled on the law in Oregon, with several notable changes. The California law would expire after 10 years and have to be re-approved, and doctors would have to consult in private with the patient desiring to die, as part of an effort to ensure that no one was being coerced to end his or her own life — a primary concern for opponents of the law.

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Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/12/us/california-legislature-approves-assisted-suicide.html

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By IAN LOVETT SEPT. 11, 2015

[Omaha Steve]

1. I'm terminal and Nebraska has no such law

K&R!

OS

[davidpdx]

5. Steve I hope Nebraskans change their minds about that

I am frankly shocked that only four states currently have such laws. I voted for Oregon's Death with Dignity Law and then voted against the attempted repeal a few years later.

I know this is a person question, but have you thought about relocating and establishing residence in one of the states that would allow such a choice?

[Omaha Steve]

6. Thought about it and decided no

We have the bases covered for when the time comes.

So far I seem to be doing better than the original timeline. Average lifespan after diagnosis is 6 years. It will be 2 years for me at Christmas.

OS

[davidpdx]

7. Well I hope you have many good days ahead

[truthisfreedom]

2. Wild. So, does life insurance apply?

My life insurance policy says it won't be paid in the event of suicide. Is assisted suicide in the event of terminal disease the same?

[NV Whino]

4. Excellent question

You can bet the insurance companies will resist payout.

[NV Whino]

3. Good news

I hope Brown gets behind it.

[smirkymonkey]

8. Bravo! If this could only become the law of the land!

I personally think that anyone should be able to choose medical assistance at any time (not just when they have only 6 months left to live) to end their life. It is a much saner way to go than to force people into more violent and less reliable methods of suicide.