By George Eighmey, President
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Since California’s End of Life Option Act passed last October, we have been receiving many calls with questions about the new law. It quickly became clear that terminally ill Californians, their loved ones, medical providers, and others need ready access to a neutral, California-based source for information about the law.
I suggested to the sponsors of the Act, State Senators Bill Monning and Lois Wolk and Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman, that the California Department of Public Health (DPH) establish a phone hotline to answer the Californians’ questions and concerns about the law. The legislators agreed with my proposal, and I worked with them to craft the language of Senate Bill 1002, End of Life Option Act Telephone Number. The first hearing on SB 1002, in the Senate Committee on Health, is scheduled to take place in Room 4203 of the California State Capitol in Sacramento, on Wednesday, March 30, at 1:30 pm PST.
While opponents mobilize to hamper the End of Life Option Act before it’s even in effect, we are working to implement the new law so that terminally ill Californians can control the way they die. Can you chip in $25 to help keep up the momentum?*
Our organization believes that adult, terminally ill residents of California deserve to have a Department of Public Health hotline number for patients, physicians, pharmacists, and others to have direct access to information about the new End of Life Option Act. While the End of Life Option Act will soon provide terminally ill Californians the right to die with dignity, SB1002 will provide them with toll-free guidance in implementing the law. If passed, the bill will mandate DPH to create a direct telephone line where knowledgeable staff will inform callers how to comply with the law.
We are working to implement the new law so that terminally ill Californians can control the way they die.
I am proud to say our organization initiated this bill and is its lead supporter. Please contribute $25 to our work on this bill.
* Your gift can go twice as far this year. Every new or increased donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $75,000, by a generous donor.
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