California End of Life Option Act (EOLOA)

Medical Aid in Dying

When the End of Life Option Act was signed by Governor Jerry Brown, and went into effect on June 9, 2016, it laid a solid foundation for all Californians to be supported in their end of life wishes. It represents a major step forward in the nationwide effort to change state laws to better reflect humane values.  The new law was patterned after the country’s first ground-breaking law, Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act, in effect since 1997. With the new law, California became the 7th and the largest state in the country to allow licensed physicians to legally prescribe a lethal dose of medication to decisionally-capable, terminally ill patients, 18 years or older, thoughtfully requesting medical aid-in-dying.

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.

For Patients

If you have read the information on accessing the End of Life Option Act and all of this seems overwhelming, know that you are not alone. Many people find accessing the law difficult. That’s why we are here… LEARN MORE

For Attending
Physicians

If you are a physician who is interested in learning more about how to support your patients who request medical-aid-in-dying, you have come to the right place. We offer you our … LEARN MORE

For Consulting Physicians

The Role of the Consulting Physician According to the End of Life Option Act, “consulting physician” means a physician who is independent from the attending physician and  … LEARN MORE