After months of crafting, dealing, lobbying and waiting, finally Governor Jerry Brown signed the End of Life Option Act (SB 128, AB 2X-15) into law, just a couple of weeks after the State Assembly and the Senate approved the bill in special sessions by a 42 to 33 vote. This makes California the fifth state to allow physicians to prescribe life-ending medication to some patients.The enormity of this victory cannot be understated. Not only have the months of work crafting the bill paid off, all qualified West Coast residents now have the option to die with dignity: a monumental progress for all Americans who want the freedom to make their own end-of-life decisions.
The Governor’s decision is certain to reverberate across the nation. The coming weeks more remains to be done in California to ensure smooth implementation of the law and even more in 46 additional states that do not have a Death with Dignity law. For now, please join in celebrating freedom winning the day.