Betsy Davis, of Ojai, diagnosed with ALS in 2013, was one of the first to take her life legally under the state law approved a year ago Friday, June 9. She began the process the day after state legislators passed it in what Gov. Jerry Brown called an “extraordinary session.”
It’s not known how many people have followed her.
According to the national nonprofit Compassion & Choices, since June 9, 2016, at least 504 terminally ill adults in California have received prescriptions for lethal drugs. The group does not know how many of them actually ingested the drugs, which range from Seconal, a sedative that costs around $3,500 per prescribed dose, to a combination of a sedative and a drug that stops the heart, for about $600.
While the path has been straightforward for some, for many other terminally ill Californians the End of Life Option Act has led to a desperate race against the clock — with patients’ families frantically searching to find the required two physicians that patients must work with to get the drugs. The law also mandates a 15-day waiting period between the two oral requests they must submit, one to each doctor, further slowing the process.
Opponents of the law say they still have questions about its implementation and how it will affect vulnerable patients.
“We are still very concerned, particularly given surrounding health care — at the state and federal level — and how that could impact patients,” said Tim Rosales, spokesman for Californians Against Assisted Suicide.
Some patients say the law has made it more difficult for them to get necessary, life-saving treatment.
Stephanie Packer of Orange, who was diagnosed with terminal lung disease and lupus, says since the End of Life Option Act passed, she has had trouble getting treatment and medication. Packer has been a vocal opponent, speaking on behalf of the Catholic Church on this issue.
Packer, a 34-year-old mother of four, says she asked her insurance company if she was covered for assisted death.
“They told me I was, for a co-pay of $1.20,” she said. “This should not be happening to patients, but it is.”
Full story at Orange County Register.
I’ll have a Hangtown Fry if it’s all the same to you.
It always starts as voluntary. Later, as in the Netherlands, it becomes mandatory to kill a sick or mentally ill person. And, anybody will be able to murder somebody without legal consequences as in the Netherlands where people are frightened to go into a hospital.
A co-pay to kill yourself?!?! Am I feeling a disconnect here?
I suspect the 21st century will become known as the century of death and blood.
Something that boggles my mind is that a number of states complain that when it comes time to execute a vicious cruel multiple torture murderer that they have difficulty in finding or getting the drugs yet there seems to be no problem in providing drugs to those who want to kill themselves.
Let us pray that this act of killing will be rescinded soon!!!
This is terrible. A living nightmare.
John Patrick you are absolutely right because in the Netherlands it has gotten so bad that elderly citizens are afraid of going into hospitals because they fear they will never come out alive. Those that are seriously ill should not give up because in many instances God will use our illnesses to bring us closer to him so that he can save us. Our severe illnesses might be our last chance to be saved. Be not afraid. Don’t give up. As Diane says in her post let us pray that this act of killing will be rescinded soon. A just society does not kill the unborn or those suffering from serious illnesses. End the culture of death now! Pray America Pray.
The Watchman,
“End of life” suffering is not only of immense value to oneself but also to others. I once knew a man who became a priest and eventually contracted Lew Gerig’s disease (ALS). Near the end of his life, he made the comment that, in regard to fighting sin, he learned things from having the disease which he wished he knew much earlier in life.
When I heard his words within the context of his disease, I realized the simple truth that the urge to sin can not kill you. In fact, it can’t even hurt you. It may feel this way, but this is a lie. It’s just an emotion or feeling which can be very gently stared down and defeated. This knowledge has been of immense value in my own fight against sin.
Well said Steve Seitz. A very good example of what you said was the children of Fatima who offered up all their sufferings for the conversion of sinners. In this the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Fatima Our Lady of Fatima pray for us especially all the sick throughout the world. Pray America Pray.
Many liberals are firmly against capital punishment, for extremely violent, dangerous murderers. Yet, they also are strong advocates of doctor-assisted suicide! Why do they refuse to stand up to protect the poor, marginalized, handicapped, sick, and elderly patients— who are very vulnerable, and may be terribly victimized by legal assisted suicide?? Why is protecting violent murderers’ lives more important to them???
I am sure that Gov. Brown is well-aware, from his Catholic boyhood– that suicide is a Mortal Sin!! Maybe if our Church decided to strictly follow her Code of Canon Law— and threaten to excommunicate those who participated in this terrible sin– plus, the sin of abortion!— maybe there would be far fewer cases of assisted suicide (and also, fewer abortions!)— and fewer doctors, nurses, and pharmacists participating in these crimes– and maybe, there would be a return to strict laws against the evils of physician-assisted suicide and abortion! Historically, when the Catholic Church has gotten tough on sin– it has really helped a lot!
All doctors used to have to take the Hippocratic Oath, regardless of their religious beliefs. The practice of medicine is supposed to protect, save, and heal human lives! No doctor, and no pharmacist, in their right mind– would ever in all the world, think of a “suicide” Rx!! Doesn’t the consciences of the doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who have participated in the “suicide” cases, bother them, at all?? No guilty consciences? No remorse? No sleepless nights, no nightmares?? No tears for the patient, and the patient’s family– and no fears that they made a horrible mistake?? No fear of God, and what He would say??
When you, personally, are dying of cancer, all medical options are exhausted, and your family is suffering the incredible financial hardships and emotional terror of watch you waste away in pain, you will beg for an option to end your suffering and those of others. Its easy to moralize and pontificate your personal religious dogma until cancer starts eating you away. You dont and cant understand this. I am dying of cancer and I do.