The California state is now the fifth state to legalize a patient's right to die through assisted medication. Governor Gerry Brown signed the legislation today allowing terminally ill patients to obtain lethal medication legally.
It has been long disputed by many outside organizations that lethal medication will not do any good to the healthcare system. The debate went on for 10 months wherein lawmakers, cancer patients and religious and disability advocates feared that the legalization of assisted death will only make matters worse.
"I'm disappointed and I'm worried. Given the level of dysfunction and injustice that exists currently in our health care system, this very potentially dangerous tool is of great concern to people with disabilities," Marge Hall, disability rights advocate with the Communities United in Defense of Olmstead, said.
The law signed by Brown has many parameters such as the amount of doctors that needed to testify the patient's condition.
Two doctors are required to validate the amount of time the patient has to live, supposedly if it is only six months or below then it can be considered.
The patient must also be able to swallow the medication on their own accord and must still retain the mental capacity to make medical decisions. It is making the right to die a law of choice for the patients.
There is also a required meeting between the patient and the physician alone to confirm that the patient is truly still able to make their own decisions without outside influences.
An affirmation letter must also be written by the patient confirming that they intend to take the lethal medication within 48 hours of doing so.
"I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill. And I wouldn't deny that right to others," Gov. Jerry Brown, said in a statement.
