California Gov. Jerry Brown pointed out on friday that it is not just any other piece of legislation: By definition, it's a matter of life and death.
"The
crux of the matter is whether the state of California should continue
to make it a crime for a dying person to end his life," Brown said, "no
matter how great his pain and suffering."
The governor made his perspective clear and made, which is also called the "End of Life Option Act," a statewide law -- when he signed the controversial legislation on friday.
Until
then, Brown hadn't indicated where he stood on the issue. Until he
explained that his decision was personal, based on his reflections "on
what I would want in the face of my own death."
"I
do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and
excruciating pain," he wrote in a letter addressed to state lawmakers.
"I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to
consider the options afforded by this bill,And I wouldn't deny that right to others."
"As
someone of wealth and access to the world's best medical care and
doctors, the governor's background is very different than that of
millions of Californians living in health care poverty without that same
access," said the coalition, which added that it is "reviewing all of
its options moving forward." "These are the people and families
potentially hurt by giving doctors the power to prescribe lethal
overdoses to patients."
For decades, Dr. Jack Kevorkian
was the American face of the movement known as "right to die" or
"assisted suicide." The Michigan pathologist not only pushed for
"right-to-die" legislation, he also helped several patients die --
including one that led to a 1999 conviction on second-degree murder
charges stemming from the death of a patient who suffered from
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease.
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