Broadening California's End of Life Option Act (EOLOA)
OUR MISSION
To broaden California’s End of Life Option Act to include individuals suffering from progressive, incurable diseases that are not currently covered under the law, thereby giving them the right to choose a legal and peaceful death with Medical Aid in Dying.
our focus for 2026
call for advocates
Our goal of expanding access to California’s end-of-life law for people with dementia and other progressive neurological conditions remains our major focus. We sponsored an ambitious bill in 2024 (SB 1196) that would have done just that. The fierce opposition to that bill, within the legislature and from powerful outside groups, has led us to realize that to achieve our goal, crucial groundwork needs to be done in order for us to succeed.
• We need to grow our base of supporters by educating the public about California’s current law and why it needs to be amended.
• We need to enlist the support of medical professionals who can help us persuade the California Medical Association and other health care organizations to support our goal.
• We need to continue our outreach to legislators and educate them about the need to expand access to the law.
We Need Your Help!
We hope to launch a state-wide effort. We cannot do it alone, but with your help, we can expand our reach. Here are the ways you can become an advocate and be part of this effort:
• Reach out to your network of friends, acquaintances, and organizations to inform them about A Better Exit’s efforts and encourage them to join our list of supporters. We will provide you with all the necessary information for this outreach.
• Are you a medical professional? If so, consider joining our effort to educate others in the field. Do you know other medical professionals who might support our goal? Please put them in touch with us!
• Contact organizations in your area and help us schedule presentations about the specifics of MAID and the ways that California’s End of Life Option Act should be expanded. If you’re interested in public speaking, perhaps you’d like to make presentations yourself. We can train you and provide the materials you would need. And, if the organization has a newsletter, arrange for us to submit an article about MAID and A Better Exit’s mission.
• Set up meetings with the Senate and Assembly Offices in your legislative districts to build a relationship with staffers and make them aware of the importance of expanding MAID. Legislators pay attention to the issues their constituents care about! Whether you meet with a legislator or staff on your own or with friends, doing this can have a powerful effect.
• Do you have other ideas? We’d love to hear them!
If you’re able to join this effort, please contact us so we can see what advocacy work might be the best fit for you. With your help, we can increase our reach throughout the state and educate Californians about the many suffering individuals who have been left behind by California’s law.
Contact us today to see how you can become an advocate!
With gratitude from A Better Exit’s Board of Directors,
Marcia, Christie, Barry, Janet, & Sara
Copyright © 2024 A Better Exit - All Rights Reserved.