Broadening California's End of Life Option Act (EOLOA)
Broadening California's End of Life Option Act (EOLOA)Broadening California's End of Life Option Act (EOLOA)Broadening California's End of Life Option Act (EOLOA)
Broadening California's End of Life Option Act (EOLOA)
OUR MISSION
To broaden California's End of Life Option Act (EOLOA) so that individuals struggling with irremediable suffering have the right to a peaceful death through Medical Aid in Dying.
2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION & EDUCATING CALIFORNIANS
NEXT STEPS FOR LEGISLATION
Senator Catherine Blakespear has committed to authoring another bill in the 2025 legislative session to expand medical aid in dying. The next bill will likely be a pared-down version of SB 1196. While it’s too early to know exactly what the final bill will include, we believe it will modify the six months to death criterion, create a pathway for people with dementia and ALS, allow a self-administered IV option, and remove the sunset clause so that the End of Life Option Act becomes permanent. A bill can be amended many times as its author works to neutralize opposition and craft a bill that can get the necessary votes to pass in both the Senate and the Assembly before heading to the Governor’s desk. It is a long road ahead.
SPREADING THE WORD
A recent report based on research done by End of Life Choices California found that only 25% of Californians are aware that we have a law allowing medical aid in dying (MAID). We also know that even fewer are aware of the specifics of the law. So, A Better Exit has turned much of our attention to arranging talks in person or via Zoom to spread the word about MAID— what it involves, who can and cannot access MAID under the current law, and the ways we would like to see our End of Life Option Act modified to allow more suffering Californians the option to choose a peaceful death. If you know of organizations or retirement communities that might be interested in a presentation or have a connection to a media outlet that might be willing to work with us to publicize our effort, please email us at contact@abetterexit.org.
A Better Exit is committed to achieving a more compassionate End of Life Option Act for California, and we will stay the course until we succeed, no matter how long it takes. We are confident that with your support we will be successful.