A California right-to-die ruling that overturned physician-assisted suicide was appealed Monday by the state’s attorney general Xavier Becerra.
The law allowing terminally ill patients to request life-ending drugs from their doctors was overturned last week by Riverside County Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Ottolia, who said it was unconstitutional, according to the Los Angeles Times. The judge gave five days for the ruling to be appealed before it took effect.
An appeals court will now decide whether or not the law can be overturned. Becerra also requested that the law remain in effect while the case is decided, the Times reported. Experts including End of Life Liberty Project attorney Kathryn Tucker expected that request to be granted.
“I do not believe there will be a period of time in which the implementation of this statute will be interrupted,” Tucker said, the Times reported.
The End of Life Option Act adopted two years ago applies to terminally ill patients with less than six months to live, the Times reported, noting that similar legislation has been legal in Oregon for more than 20 years.
Those arguing against the law said it should not have been pushed through during a special session of the legislature, the Orange County Register reported. They want to see the law considered by the legislature properly.
“We know this legal battle is far from over, but ultimately justice in the California court system will prevail,” National Director of Legal Advocacy for Compassion & Choices Kevin Diaz said, the Register reported.
Under the law, 111 Californians have used physician-provided medications to end their lives, a California Department of Public Health report from June 2017 said. Other states with right-to-die laws include Colorado, Montana, Vermont, Washington, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia.
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