New "End Of Life" Law

New "End Of Life" Law

SB139 is a new law taking effect this year that will allow doctors to prescribe life-ending medication to terminally ill patients.  If someone is diagnosed as terminally ill with six months or less to live, the individual may now choose to end his or her life, foregoing their last days that could be filled with the patient’s agony, family trauma, and costly hospital bills.The landmark legislation calls for dying patients to meet certain conditions in order to end their lives, including:·       Being a California resident,·       Having two doctor opinions,·       Making their own, informed medical decisions,·       Voluntarily making two oral requests, at least 15 days apart, for life-ending medication,·       Making one written request for the medication to end one’s life, and·       Administering their own lethal drug prescribed by a qualified physician.The new law also makes it a felony for anyone to coerce a dying person to request the fatal drug.Making life altering choices is essential to any estate plan, which details one’s wishes and helps relieve many of the decision-making burdens on surviving family members.  At Hilliard Hopkins, LLP, we have created a unique, personal process to help families while living and to support them through the end-of-life.You are not alone. Call Terri Hilliard at 805-778-0111 or e-mail thilliard@terrihilliard.com.