California lawmakers send assisted suicide bill to governor

SACRAMENTO, Calif.

The California Senate today sent Gov. Jerry Brown a bill that would allow physicians to prescribe life-ending drugs to Californians diagnosed as having less than six months to live.

A day after the bill cleared the Assembly, the Senate approved the measure, sending it to the governor’s desk.

Democratic Sen. Lois Wolk, a coauthor of the measure,called the process of approving the bill a “historic effort.”

“Californians want us to act to eliminate the needless pain and prolonged suffering of those who are dying,” Wolk told her colleagues.

Republican Sen. Robert Huff of San Dimas opposed the bill.

“Let’s call this what it is. It’s not death with dignity. It’s assisted killing,” he said.

Opponents of the bill said there are too many unanswered questions about how the proposed law would prevent people from being coerced by heirs or relatives into ending their lives prematurely.

“This bill still remains broadly opposed by groups representing people living with disabilities, cancer doctors, people advocating for the poor and uninsured and faith-based organizations,” said Tim Rosales, a spokesman for Californians Against Assisted Suicide.

The question now is what action Brown, a former Catholic seminarian, will take on the measure.

The governor has not yet taken a public position on the proposal, but Wolk predicted months ago that bill would pose a challenge for him.

“This is a governor who will struggle with this issue, given his background,” Wolk predicted then.

The proposal gained momentum after Californian Brittany Maynard moved to Oregon last November so she could end her life and avoid the pain and debilitating effects of brain cancer. Her husband, Dan Diaz, noted that three days before she died “Brittany had the opportunity to have a conversation with Gov. Brown” about her desire for California to adopt an Aid-in-Dying bill like Oregon’s.

“I am confident that the governor will listen to the 75 percent of Californians who do support this option, that the governor will take into consideration that this is an option for an individual voluntarily to pursue,” Diaz said. “Ethically this decision belongs with the individual working with his physician. I am hopeful.”