California Introduces Assisted Suicide Bill

California lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would legalize assisted suicide. The proposed bill is Senate Bill 128, “End of Life Option Act.” The bill, which is similar to Oregon’s assisted suicide law, was proposed by two Democratic California senators:

“This bill would enact the End of Life Option Act authorizing an adult who meets certain qualifications, and who has been determined by his or her attending physician to be suffering from a terminal illness, as defined, to make a request for medication prescribed pursuant to these provisions for the purpose of ending his or her life. The bill would establish the procedures for making these requests. The bill would also establish the forms to request aid-in-dying medication and under specified circumstances an interpreter declaration to be signed subject to penalty of perjury, thereby imposing a crime and state-mandated local program.”

The bill doesn’t come without criticism. For example, opponents say the act will convince patients to use assisted suicide if insurance claims get denied or if medical costs become too high. America’s health care system is purely profit driven. Insurance agencies may deny a lifesaving treatment, but will cover the low one-time cost of assisted suicide.

Also, illnesses can change suddenly and many people have outlived their expected life span. Ending a life prematurely promotes a wider acceptance of suicide.

Reasons to Support the End of Life Option Act

Brittney Maynard became famous in 2014 for choosing to end her own life in Oregon after she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Although her case is tragic and controversial, no one could possibly claim that she didn’t die with dignity. Rather than suffering for months, dying painfully in a hospital room, she died peacefully in her own bed surrounded by her loved ones.

If any human is suffering without hope of recovery, they should have every right to end their own life on their own terms. Even if a person chooses assisted suicide purely based on medical costs, who are we to judge? Would we rather a person undergo immense stress from a massive medical bill they have no way of paying? Or do we want them to be at peace?

No one chooses to be inflicted with a terminal illness that will bring about hopeless suffering. However, when a condition of this nature strikes, people should be able to choose how to confront their condition.

Will Other States Follow?

If this act passes, what does it mean for the rest of the country? Since Brittany Maynard decided to end her own life in 2014, proposals have been made to implement Oregon’s same laws throughout the country.

Just as same-sex marriage has been widely accepted and legalized, I believe assisted suicide will do the same. Both have ethical, moral, and religious aspects and viewpoints attached to them. But after Brittney Maynard made such a huge impact with her inspiring story, it looks like more assisted suicide laws will be proposed.