When my father was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 2006, California had no End of Life Option Act. What he faced — and what our family endured — remains a painful reminder of why we must Senate Bill 403.
After being told he had about a year to live, my father made a devastating decision: he planned to shoot himself when the suffering became too great. When I found out about his plan, I was horrified. I begged him to consider a less violent way to take control of his death. Eventually, he decided to quietly stockpile medications, slowly accumulating enough to end his life.
On the day he chose to die, he took my mother to dinner to say goodbye. Afterwards, she checked into a nearby hotel so no one could accuse her of helping. Alone at the dining room table, with his pills and a bottle of Courvoisier, my father ended his life. The next morning, my mother and I found him lying under the table where he had fallen.
No one should have to die like that — alone, desperate, fearful of implicating their loved ones.
Today, thanks to the End of Life Option Act, mentally capable, terminally ill adults in California have a safer, more comionate choice. Since 2016, more than 4,000 Californians have used this law to end their lives peacefully, often surrounded by those they love.
But unless action is taken, that right could disappear. California’s End of Life Option Act is the only medical aid-in-dying law in the country with a sunset clause. It’s currently set to expire on Jan. 1, 2031 — unless the Legislature acts.
State Sen. Catherine Blakespear, who represents District 38 here in San Diego County, has introduced SB 403 to remove that sunset and make the law permanent. This is a vital step not just for those currently facing a terminal diagnosis, but for the many Californians who aren’t sick now but may be someday.
Removing the sunset now doesn’t just preserve an option — it provides peace of mind. People who are newly diagnosed with terminal illnesses shouldn’t have to wonder whether this right will still exist in a few years. For those living with progressive diseases or those who’ve watched a loved one suffer, knowing that the End of Life Option Act will be there if they ever need it can bring immense comfort. It restores a sense of control at a time when everything else feels out of their hands.
The data is clear: The law works. In 2023, 1,281 people received aid-in-dying prescriptions, and 835 chose to use them. Nearly 94% were over the age of 60, and almost all were receiving hospice or palliative care. Every patient goes through a careful, multi-step process: two oral requests, a written request signed by two witnesses, and evaluations by two doctors to ensure they are mentally capable and not being coerced. They must be informed of alternatives like pain management and can change their mind at any time. The medication must be self-istered.
In nearly a decade, there have been no documented cases of abuse or misuse. The law is working exactly as intended — helping people facing unbearable suffering to die on their own , with dignity and autonomy.
Medical aid in dying isn’t about giving up. It’s about ensuring people have the right to choose how their story ends. Not everyone chooses to use the medication, but for many, just having the option brings tremendous relief.
When my father made his choice, he did so without or legal options. He was forced to act in secrecy, fearing criminal consequences for the people he loved. I often think about how much gentler his death — and our grieving — could have been if a law like the End of Life Option Act had existed.
ing Senate Bill 403 is more than a legislative decision. It is a moral affirmation of comion, dignity and trust in people to make deeply personal decisions about their own bodies and lives.
Californians deserve to know that when their time comes, they will have access to the same protections and choices as thousands before them. Let’s not wait until the law is at risk. Let’s protect it now — for those who need it today, and those who may need it tomorrow.
Let’s make comion permanent.
Golemb is a founder and vice president of A Better Exit and lives in Kensington.
