Stiff Requirements Come Before Californians Can End Lives Under New Law
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law allowing terminally ill patients in California to end their lives after an emotional and divisive debate.
When his soulmate Leslie fell ill with uterine cancer, Christopher Hobbs physically felt her misery.
"To have to watch your loved one die in a prolonged way, that is like one of the worst pains," he said. "You know why they call it heartbreak, because you feel it in your chest. You feel your heart breaking."
It was around the time Brittany Maynard's story came out in fall of 2014. The Bay Area woman with brain cancer traveled to Oregon to end her life.
Hobbs' wife also wanted to end her suffering, but leaving her Davis home wasn't an option.
"Turns out that she was really disappointed because she found out that, no, you have to be a resident and it takes six months," he said. "She didn't have six months."
Groups have spent decades pushing for the option to end their life in a way Dr. Michael Amster says isn't assisted suicide.
"It's actually not suicide because people who are suicidal want to die when have an ability to live, but people want to live but can't because they're dying," he said.
The law has specific guidelines and hurdles to be cleared. Two doctors must determine that a patient has six months or less to live, two witnesses—including someone who isn't a family member—have to be present, and patients must have the mental capacity to make medical decision.
It's a process that disability rights advocates like Margaret Johnson take issue with.
"Once the dose is given to the patient there's no one that makes sure the patient doesn't change their mind," she said.
The law does state patients must swallow the medication themselves.
While the law doesn't go into effect until Jan. 1, doctors say they will begin training hospices immediately.
