In early 2016, California became the fifth state in the U.S. to allow patients to acquire assistance for ending their lives. The “End of Life Option Act” went into effect after being passed by voters in 2015 and gives terminally-ill patients the option to legally end their own lives with the help of doctor-prescribed medication.
Under the law, a California resident who is 18 years or older with a terminal diagnosis of six months or less can begin the process of requesting an aid-in-dying prescription. The request must be made by the patient themselves, and the patients must be of sound mind and able to make their own medical decisions.
What does the law mean for terminally ill patients?
Participation in the End of Life Option Act is completely voluntary every step of the way. Patients, health care providers, physicians, pharmacists, and even insurance companies can opt in or out at any point. For those patients who do choose this option, the act does not grant them with immediate relief—which may be a good thing, since it’s a very serious decision. There are several different steps and criterion that must be met before a patient can gain access to the medication that will end their life. In fact, it’s roughly a month-long process from making the decision to obtaining the aid-in-dying medication.
The approval process begins with doctor evaluations and includes verbal requests, a written request, consultation with a second physician, and completion of several forms.
Where does hospice care fit in?
The law helps to start the conversation of end-of-life support and the different care available to patients. It actually requires physicians to discuss alternatives, including hospice, palliative care, and pain management. A lot of times, patients don’t know they have these comfort care options and don’t realize how many amazing organizations are out there to help them cope with the difficult journey they face at the end of their lives.
At Ardent, we take a neutral and objective stance on the End of Life Option Act. While the hospice doctor can be a part of the process at some point, the decision really goes back to the patient, family, primary care physician, and pharmaceutical prescriber.
Regardless of the patient’s ultimate decision, our team members at Ardent are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care and comfort to each of our patients. Many patients who go through the process and receive the aid-in-dying medication will end up not using it because they’ve also opted for hospice care and are comforted by the services they’re receiving.
In Oregon, which has a similar “Death with Dignity Law” that has been enacted for more than a decade, more than one-third of patients who obtain the prescription never end up taking it. So, just because a patient has gone through the process, does not mean their decision is final.
Our team is committed to further educating ourselves on this law, since it’s still a recent change and the repercussions have yet to play out. We are open to discussing all options with our patients and their families, and will support them either way.
When a patient and their family are hit with the news of a terminal diagnosis, we know it can be absolutely devastating. If you would like more information on the End of Life Option Act and the care options available, contact Ardent online or by calling (858) 952-1786.
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