1. THE RIGHT TO DIE THE ARGUMENT FOR LEGISLATION IN CALIFORNIA

2. “The final hour when we cease to exist does not itself bring death; it merely of itself completes the dying. We reach death at the moment, but we have been a long time on the way.“ Seneca the Younger (c.5BCE-c.65CE) Henkelman, W., & Danilis, P. (1998, Jan). A protocol for palliative care measures. Nursing Management, 29.1, 40- 46.

3. The Study to Understand Prognoses and Preferences for Outcomes and Risks of Treatment (SUPPORT) found that: Elderly or terminally ill patients who die in a hospital experience significant pain and suffering within the last few days of their lives. Over half of these patients, including terminally ill cancer patients, underwent at least on of three life-support measures in their last 3 days of life: Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation Mechanical ventilation Mechanical feeding Many of these measures were administered contrary to patient preferences. Henkelman, W., & Danilis, P. (1998, Jan). A protocol for palliative care measures. Nursing Management, 29.1, 40-46.

4. OREGON, WASHINGTON AND VERMONT HAVE “DEATH WITH DIGNITY ACT” LEGISLATION Legislation requires that: The patient must request the medication two times, at least 15 days apart. 2 physicians must attest to the prognosis, mental competence and voluntary nature of the request. The MD will then order the medication. The patient can take the medication at a time of his or her choosing. Meyer, H. (2009, Mar 20). Lives in the Balance. Medical Economics, 86.6, 12-4, 16-9.

5. In Oregon, oral seconal and pentobarbital are primarily used. A 2000 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that Oregon physicians granted about 1 in 6 requests for lethal prescriptions, and that 1 in 10 of those requests resulted in assisted deaths. Meyer, H. (2009, Mar 20). Lives in the Balance. Medical Economics, 86.6, 12-4, 16-9.

6. Oppositions to the measure: The morality of patients taking their own lives It lowers the barrier to suicide There exists a moral duty to protect and preserve life It violates respect for human life It is morally unacceptable for physicians to hasten death Fear of criminal liability, professional board review and reprimand Andre, C., & Velasquez, M. (nd). Assisted Suicide: A Right or a Wrong?. Retrieved from http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v1n1/suicide.html Henkelman, W., & Danilis, P. (1998, Jan). A protocol for palliative care measures. Nursing Management, 29.1, 40-46.

7. In California, there are two choices for end of life care: Terminal sedation augmented by withdrawal of food and hydration Ceasing all food and hydration until death occurs In both scenarios, the patient would receive medical support and medication to alleviate discomfort White, M. (2013, Feb 20). A Matter of Life and Death: What Are The Choices? [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.deathwithdignity.org/2013/02/20/matter-life-and-death-what-are- choices

8. PLEASE VOTE “YES” ON THE CALIFORNIA DEATH WITH DIGNITY ACT

9. References Andre, C., & Velasquez, M. (nd). Assisted Suicide: A Right or a Wrong?. Retrieved from http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v1n1/suicide.html Churchill, L., & King, N. (1997, Jul 19). Physician assisted suicide, euthanasia, or withdrawal of treatment. British Medical Journal, International edition, 315.7101, 137-8. Henkelman, W., & Danilis, P. (1998, Jan). A protocol for palliative care measures. Nursing Management, 29.1, 40-46. Manu, C. (2010, Jam-Mar). Assisted Suicide. Journal of Medicine and Life, 3.1, 52-9. Meyer, H. (2009, Mar 20). Lives in the Balance. Medical Economics, 86.6, 12-4, 16-9. White, M. (2013, Feb 20). A Matter of Life and Death: What Are The Choices? [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.deathwithdignity.org/2013/02/20/matter-life-and-death-what- are-choices