Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2025 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

What Do Doctors Think About California’s Aid-In-Dying Law?

Terminally ill adults now have the right to die on their own terms in California. The so-called End of Life Option Act went into effect Thursday . It allows terminally ill patients who are mentally competent and have less than six months to live to request medication that would kill them. Not all doctors are on board with the new law, though.

  • rss
  • Share
By Madeleine Brand • Jun 10, 2016 • 1 min read

Terminally ill adults now have the right to die on their own terms in California. The so-called End of Life Option Act went into effect Thursday. It allows terminally ill patients who are mentally competent and have less than six months to live to request medication that would kill them. Not all doctors are on board with the new law, though. As it went into effect yesterday, a group of physicians sued to stop it, saying it’s unconstitutional. Other doctors say they’re not opposed to the law necessarily, but that they’ll choose not to prescribe the life-ending drug themselves. Many doctors, however, welcome the option to help dying patients in pain end their lives on their own terms.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Madeleine Brand

    Host, 'Press Play'

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Matt Holzman

    Producer, 'The Document'

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Anna Scott

    Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

  • KCRW placeholder

    Jolie Myers

    Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Mark Needham

    Doct

  • KCRW placeholder

    Lonny Shavelson

    Doctor, Director

    News
Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand