Your Choices Matter

Explore Your Options with Confidence

End of Life Choices California believes that all Californians should have factual
information about, and access to, all legal options concerning their end-of-life wishes.

End of Life Choices California believes that all Californians should have factual information about, and access to, all legal options concerning their end-of-life wishes.

Supporting Your Journey with Compassion

We understand that navigating end-of-life care is a deeply personal and significant journey. We aim to empower you with the knowledge and resources to make choices that are right for you and your family. Our organization is here to support you in exploring all available options, helping to ensure that your end-of-life decisions are made with dignity, respect, and a sense of peace.

Eligibility Requirements to Access the Law

  • Must be 18 years or older.
  • Must be of sound mind and exhibit appropriate decision-making capabilities to the attending physician.
  • Must be able to self-ingest the medication either orally or by pushing through an NG tube.
  • Must be diagnosed with a terminal disease, with a life expectancy of six months or less, by two physicians.

Supporting Your Journey with Compassion

We understand that navigating end-of-life care is a deeply personal and significant journey. We aim to empower you with the knowledge and resources to make choices that are right for you and your family. Our organization is here to support you in exploring all available options, helping to ensure that your end-of-life decisions are made with dignity, respect, and a sense of peace.

Exploring End-of-Life Care Options

In addition to MAiD, our organization advocates for the dignity of choice through other legal end-of-life care options.

Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD)

MAiD is a legal option allowing a physician to prescribe life-ending medications to a terminally-ill and mentally-capable adult to control the timing of their death. EOLCCA is here to guide you and your family through every aspect of the law and ensure you have the information and support you need during this important journey.

Stopping Unwanted Medical Treatment

Certain medical treatments—such as dialysis, ventilators, feeding tubes, IV hydration, antibiotics, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)—can be refused or discontinued at any time.

Hospice

Hospice care is a compassionate approach to supporting individuals who are facing a life-limiting illness. It focuses on relieving pain and symptoms while addressing emotional and spiritual needs—not curing the illness

Palliative Care

Palliative care is specialized medical care designed for people living with a serious or chronic illness. The primary goal is to relieve pain, manage symptoms, and reduce stress—improving the overall quality of life for both the patient and their family.

Palliative Sedation

Palliative sedation—sometimes called terminal sedation—is a medical option used at the very end of life to relieve intense, unmanageable pain and suffering.

Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED)

Voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) is the conscious act of a person to intentionally stop eating and drinking with the goal of ending their life.

Our Role

We serve as your guide—not a provider—helping you understand your rights, the law, and connect with:

  • Hospice care providers
  • Palliative care specialists
  • Medical aid in dying professionals

We Help You

  • Navigate the ELOA process
  • Learn about alternative end-of-life care choices
  • Make decisions aligned with your values and dignity

Frequently Asked Questions

Healthcare providers in California can play a crucial role in assisting patients with end-of-life care decisions. They should be expected to provide information about available options, including MAiD, palliative care, and hospice services. Healthcare providers can also support patients surrounding end-of-life care and help ensure their wishes are respected and honored.
Individuals in California should have several legal documents in place to ensure their end-of-life wishes are honored, including advance healthcare directives. These documents outline their preferences for medical treatment, end-of-life care, and designate a healthcare proxy to make decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated.

Advance directives are legal documents that allow individuals to specify their healthcare preferences and end-of-life care wishes in advance. In California, individuals can create advance directives, including living wills and durable powers of attorney for healthcare, to outline their preferences for medical treatment, life-sustaining measures, and end-of-life care. These documents ensure their wishes are respected and followed, even if they become unable to communicate or make decisions.

Individuals in California can designate a healthcare proxy or power of attorney for healthcare decisions by completing a power of attorney for healthcare, which is typically part of the advance health care directive. This document allows them to appoint a trusted individual to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so. It is important to discuss these wishes with the designated proxy and ensure they understand and are willing to fulfill their role.

Individuals in California should have several legal documents in place to ensure their end-of-life wishes are honored, including advance healthcare directives, living wills, and power of attorney for healthcare decisions. These documents outline their preferences for medical treatment, end-of-life care, and designate a healthcare proxy to make decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated.

Hospice care in California provides compassionate end-of-life care to individuals with terminal illnesses, focusing on comfort and quality of life. Patients can access hospice care through Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or out-of-pocket payments. Hospice services may be provided in a variety of settings, including the patient’s home, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, or short term 24/hour care hospice centers. Individuals can discuss their options and preferences with their healthcare provider or hospice coordinator to arrange for hospice care.
Yes, there are support groups and counseling services available in California for individuals facing end-of-life decisions. Organizations like End of Life Choices California, hospice programs, and healthcare facilities may offer support groups, counseling services, and educational resources to help individuals and families cope with the emotional, spiritual, and practical aspects of end-of-life care and decision-making. Individuals can also use the services of a “death doula.”
Individuals in California can ensure their end-of-life care preferences are communicated and respected within the healthcare system by creating advance directives, discussing their wishes with their healthcare providers and loved ones, and appointing a healthcare proxy or power of attorney for healthcare decisions. It is important to document and update these preferences regularly and ensure they are accessible to healthcare providers when needed. Individuals can also complete a dementia directive, but it is not legally binding.
Healthcare providers who participate in MAiD in California are protected by the End of Life Option Act, which shields them from civil, criminal, or professional liability for participating in good faith compliance with the law. However, providers are not required to participate if it conflicts with their personal or professional beliefs. It is essential for providers to familiarize themselves with the legal requirements and ethical considerations surrounding MAiD.
The ethical considerations surrounding end-of-life care and MAiD in California are complex and multifaceted. They involve balancing individual autonomy and choice with concerns about patient vulnerability, coercion, and religious beliefs. Healthcare providers, policymakers, and society as a whole must consider issues of justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity when addressing end-of-life care decisions and policies, including MAiD.

Further Reading

California Department of Public Health

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) provides detailed information and data about the End of Life Option Act, including how to access the forms required for the process.

Compassion & Choices

This organization is a leading advocate for end-of-life care options, including Medical Aid in Dying. Their website offers resources for planning end-of-life care, understanding legal options, and stories from individuals and families who have navigated these decisions.

National Alliance for Care at Home

For information on hospice and palliative care, the Alliance website provides resources for finding care providers, understanding what hospice and palliative care entail, and FAQs about end-of-life care.

Death with Dignity National Center

This nonprofit organization advocates for laws that allow individuals with terminal illnesses to end their lives in a dignified manner. Their website includes information on the legal status of medical aid in dying across the United States, as well as state by state resources for individuals and families.

The Conversation Project

Dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care, The Conversation Project offers tools, resources, and guides to facilitate meaningful conversations among family members and with healthcare providers.

American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM)

For those seeking more in-depth information on palliative care and hospice medicine, the AAHPM offers resources for professionals and the public on the latest in palliative care practices and policies.

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