Right To Die Bill Stalled

Sacramento, CA — The authors of a right-to-life bill pulled it from the Assembly Health Committee calendar after fierce opposition voiced from religious groups, including the Catholic Church.

California State Senators Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and Lois Wolk (D-Davis) co-authored SB 128, which would allow a mentally competent, terminally ill adult in the final stages of life to request aid-in-dying medication from a physician.  Monning explains, “We have chosen not to present the End of Life Option Act.  However, we are continuing to work with the Committee members to ensure that, when the bill is presented, they are comfortable with the measure.” Monning adds, “Seven out of every ten California voters want to see SB 128 become law and we remain committed to passing the End of Life Option Act for all Californians who want this option.”

The move has ended any ability to get the bill passed this year. A similar right-to-die bill failed in California in 2007.