On February 11, 2021 SB 380 was introduced in the California legislature. SB 380 will make sure that the End of Life Option Act will not expire as it is set to in a few years, as well as improve upon the law so that more eligible Californians are able to access the law. On April 20, 2021 the Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB 380 out of committee by a 9-1 vote. The Senate Health Committee had previously approved SB 380 in an 8-1 vote. The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The California End of Life Option Act went into effect on June 9th, 2016, authorizing the compassionate option of medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults to get a prescription they can take to end their life peacefully. The law includes a sunset provision and will expire on January 1, 2026 unless we pass new legislation.

Take action: Email your lawmakers and urge them to keep and improve the End of Life Option Act

TAKE ACTION
Endorse SB 380, and show your support for why we need to keep and improve the End of Life Option Act

ENDORSE SB380

Check out our playlist of videos about the California End of Life Option Act:

Take Action

  • Attend an Event in California: Participate in virtual activities related to medical aid in dying and advance care planning.
  • Volunteer With Us: Join other passionate and dedicated individuals to work to re-enact legislation that improves care and expands end-of-life choice.
  • Schedule a Presentation: We’ll explain the full range of end-of-life options and explain step-by-step how the law works – in English and in Spanish.

 

Education and Outreach

The bilingual California Access Campaign:

  • Helps patients, caregivers and health professionals understand how the law works. Staff and volunteers presented at over 100 public outreach events this year alone.
  • Assists healthcare facilities develop more supportive policies. To date more than 80% of large health facilities have adopted policies supportive of medical aid in dying.
  • Provides technical assistance and presentations to healthcare providers on end-of-life options.

Sign up to volunteer or email us at [email protected] to request a presentation in your own community.

Our five-year goal to pass a law in California was achieved in just one year.


Read the History of the California Campaign

 

Tools and Resources

simple blue medical cross graphic.

For Patients
Learn whether you are eligible for the California End of Life Option Act.
About the End of Life Option Act (in Chinese).

 

tools for end of life planning and decision making.

End-of-Life Planning
Use our step-by-step guide to chart your journey or access the California advance directive directly here.

 

advance care planning and resources in Spanish, espanol.

Recursos en Español
Recursos en Español.

 

answers to questions about COVID-19, including treatment and end of life.

COVID-19 Toolkit
Get answers to your questions about COVID-19 and end of life care.

 

tools for end of life planning and decision making.

Resources for Providers
Find resources tailored to the needs of healthcare providers.

 

tools for documenting end-of-life for dementia.

Dementia Values & Priorities Tool
Use our tool to document your preferences to make sure you get the care you want.

 

What’s Happening Now

On February 11, 2021 SB 380 was introduced in the California legislature. SB 380 will make sure that the End of Life Option Act will not expire as it is set to in a few years, so that eligible terminally ill Californians will always have the compassionate option of medical aid in dying. It will also improve upon the law so that more eligible Californians are able to access the law. Key improvements include:

  • It eliminates the original law’s sunset clause, making it a permanent statute.
  • It reduces the mandatory minimum 15-day waiting period between the two oral requests for aid-in-dying medication to 48 hours for all eligible patients. (The New Mexico legislature passed similar medical aid-in-dying legislation on March 15 that requires a 48-hour waiting period between the time the prescription is written and when it is filled.)
  • It requires healthcare systems and hospices put their medical aid-in-dying policies on their websites.
  • It clarifies that the first oral request must be documented in a patient’s medical record even if the physician chooses not to support the patient in the option.
  • It ensures that patients will be given factual information about the End of Life Option Act when they ask so that physicians are upfront with their patients and tell them if they will not support them.