California

Legal situation

In short

In 2016, California’s End of Life Option Act passed. In 2021, the Act is amended by Senate Bill 380. This new law improved the access to the End of Life Option Act. The original legislation included a provision that would expire at the end of 2025 unless new legislation is passed. SB 380 extends that sunset provision to 2031.

End of Life Option Act

This act permits an adult with a terminal disease and the mental capacity to make health care decisions to request and be prescribed an aid-in-dying drug if specified conditions are met. The act is to be found in the Health and Safety Code Section 443 et seq.

Amendments to the End of Life Option Act

This act amended the End of Life Option Act. It improves the access to the End of Life Option Act:

The mandatory minimum waiting period between the 1st and 2nd oral request will be reduced from 15 days to 48 hours
Healthcare systems and hospices will have to post their aid-in-dying policies on their websites
The final attestation form will be eliminated
If a patient makes a request for medical aid in dying and their doctor cannot support them in it, the doctor will be required to tell the patient they will not support them, document the request in the patient’s medical record and transfer the patient’s medical records upon request
Clarify that medical aid in dying can be taken within a helathcare facility