California's 'Right-To-Die' Law Comes Into Force, Still Controversial

Terminally ill patients can now face death according to their own terms. California now has a new "right-to-die law," designed to respect the wishes of terminally-ill patients to just die. 

The End of Life Option Act was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown eight months ago. It goes into effect June 9, as reported by Monterey Herald. 

The law was quite controversial, splitting those who believe that patients who are terminally ill should be given the ability to dictate the terms of their death and those who are worried that the law will be subjected to abuse by those who would rather see the patient, especially the elderly, die. 

Under the law, adults who are mentally capable and yet diagnosed with at most six months to live can tell their doctors to give them prescriptions that will end their lives whenever they choose. 

For terminally-ill patients, the law is precisely what most of them wanted. Instead of fearing death, many finds it a relief that there will be an option for them to die when they feel like it as the level of pain and difficulty has become unbearable. 

Critics of the said law, however, believe that this is dangerous law and quite an overreach by the state. They believe that the law can be subject to abuse. Patients for them, particularly the elderly, can be coerced to get the prescriptions. Without alternatives and without the requirement of witnesses to their self-administered deaths, patients may find themselves forced to take on this option. 

A group called "Californians Against Assisted Suicide" and its partners has launched a watchdog website that calls for the public to stay vigilant against "mistake, misuse, coercion and abuse" into law. "This law does not apply to everyone equally," said Tim Rosales, a spokesman for Californians Against Assisted Suicide.

Rosales also said that in other states where the law exists, particularly Oregon and Washington, patients are choosing to die not because of unbearable pain, but because they believe they are becoming a burden to their family, friends, and caregivers. As such, the option is likelier to be chosen by those from less fortunate backgrounds.

"That is very telling, certainly when you are looking at the economic diversity across the board," Rosales said.