AID-IN-DYING BILL shorter S.S.

2 CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY MEMBERS WILL BE INTRODUCING AN AID-IN-DYING BILL, MODELED ON THE SUCCESSFUL OREGON LAW. RECENT POLLS INDICATE THAT 75 PERCENT OF ADULTS IN CALIFORNIA BELIEVE THAT TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS SHOULD HAVE THE ?RIGHT TO ASK FOR (AND GET) LIFE-ENDING MEDICATION.? OREGON?S AID-IN-DYING LAW HAS REPORTEDLY WORKED FLAWLESSLY FOR MORE THAN 7 YEARS. FEW PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN MEDICATION TO HASTEN THE DYING PROCESS, BUT MANY THOUSANDS SAY THEY FIND COMFORT IN KNOWING IT IS AVAILABLE, (IF SUCH A NEED ARISES). THE LAST ATTEMPT AT LEGALIZING AID-IN-DYING (IN CALIFORNIA) WAS IN 1999, WHEN A SIMILAR BILL FAILED TO PASS. HOWEVER, RECENT CHANGES IN CALIFORNIA LAW (REGARDING PAIN MANAGEMENT, AND END-OF-LIFE CARE) HAVE RAISED THE PROSPECTS FOR THIS LEGISLATION.

A PUBLIC HEARING ON PALLIATIVE CARE: ASSISTED DYING AND ITS IMPACT ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WILL BE HELD IN LOS ANGELES THIS FRIDAY, AND A 2ND HEARING WILL BE HELD IN SAN FRANCISCO FEBRUARY 4TH.