![]() The above process can take up to several weeks depending on appointment availability and the time it takes to get the medications. If for any reason you are not eligible for the EOLA at the time you initially ask about it, your physician can help you obtain other services to address your needs, and may re-evaluate you at a later date if your condition changes. The law also requires that you make a verbal request to a second physician, called the "consulting physician," who is independently assessing that you qualify for the End of Life Option Act (EOLA), including your diagnosis, prognosis, mental state and independence. Your physician or the AID consultant can give you this form. Only one of these witnesses can be a family member. The attending physician is the one who writes the prescription once the process has been completed.Īt one of these appointments, you must submit a form titled "Written Request for An Aid-In-Dying Drug to End My Life in a Humane and Dignified Manner." This form must be signed by two witnesses who know you and are attesting to the fact that you are making this request on your own. This is to ensure you are making the request independently and voluntarily. Your attending physician is also required to have at least one conversation with you alone, with no other friends or family members present. You must make a verbal request at each visit that you want the life-ending drug. ![]() No member of our medical team is obligated by law to participate, so only medical professionals and staff who are voluntarily participating will assist you.Īn attending physician will see you twice at least 48 hours apart and verify that you continue to meet the aid-in-dying requirements under the law. If your physician does not prescribe the aid-in-dying drug, you can ask members of your medical team to connect you with an AID consultant who will give you more information. Physicians who do not participate in the AID program are not obligated by law to act on your request. When you're ready, you should begin with a frank discussion with the physicians who knows you best. Only the individual can decide if and when their own quality of life has become so poor that physician aid in dying seems to be the best option to end one's own life in a humane and dignified manner. Pain and discomfort can, in most cases, be managed by a palliative care team, or hospice care can bring services into your home that enhance comfort and quality of life. When it has become clear that you are in the final months of life, there are several options to consider. ![]() Your physician is dedicated to making sure that your treatment matches your goals. If you are a UC San Diego Health patient, ask your physician about your treatment options. View the UC San Diego Health policy (PDF) ![]() Participation in this end-of-life option is voluntary for patients, doctors and staff. Under this law, physician aid in dying (AID) is not considered suicide. They also must be able to ingest the medication on their own. People who wish to exercise this aid in dying option must maintain their decision-making capacity and must independently make this request to a physician. This practice is also known as "death with dignity" or "physician (doctor) aid in dying." It is not the same as euthanasia, which involves a doctor actually administering drugs to end a patient's life. It allows California residents who are at least 18 years old and have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 6 months or less to request a medication that will hasten their death. The End of Life Options Act (SB 128) went into effect on June 9, 2016. This information about California's End of Life Option Act (EOLA) and the physician aid in dying (AID) process is provided to help UC San Diego Health patients and their loved ones understand how this law works. ![]()
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