Gov. Jerry Brown on Oct. 5 announced the signing of Assembly Bill X2-15, co-authored by San Benito County’s Assemblyman, Luis Alejo (D-Salinas) and Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton). The so-called End of Life Option Act will grant mentally-capable, terminally-ill adults the option of requesting a doctor’s prescription for aid-in-dying drugs to painlessly and peacefully hasten their death.
Following the signing of AB X2-15, Alejo issued the following statement:
“History was made today with Governor Brown’s approval of AB X2-15, the End of Life Option Act. After months of emotional debate and discussion, California is now the fifth state in the nation to offer terminally ill residents a peaceful and dignified way to end their suffering, and only the second to enact it through legislation behind Vermont.
But this bill is not only about those with terminal illnesses – it is equally about their family members and loved ones. This has been an incredibly personal debate for me and I can tell you from experience that the only thing more painful than watching someone close to you suffer, is being powerless to do anything about it. In many ways, our state had created two classes of victims – the patients forced to endure their terrible, and life ending illnesses and the families forced to helplessly watch as their loved ones suffered a prolonged and painful death. I am grateful that with the Governor’s signature of this legislation, these days are now in our past. Those suffering from terminal illnesses can now rest assured that their dignity will be respected in this state.
I commend the Governor and his administration for allowing Californians to have an option where they can now legally, respectfully, and dignifiedly, make their own choice when it comes to their pain. I also want to commend all my colleagues in both houses of the legislature for their deep consideration, discussion and debate of this bill. Together, we were able to carefully craft legislation that will better serve the people of California, something we were all elected to do here in Sacramento.
While those patients that were forced to endure prolonged and painful deaths may no longer be with us, their families must rest assured that their suffering was not in vein – it was their stories and the humanization of this very important issue that got us here today.”
-Luis Alejo represents the 30th District in the California State Assembly, which consists of the Salinas Valley, Monterey County, San Benito County, South Santa Clara County and the city of Watsonville in Santa Cruz County.