Over the weekend our excellent California governor Jerry Brown signed California state bill ABX2-15, widely known as "The End-of-Life Options Act." It allows under sternly restricted circumstances a patient with a terminal illness to request medical aid in hastening death.
Before deciding there was general speculation about whether he would sign. As a young man for a while he pursued the path to becoming a Jesuit priest. This bill was opposed to the official doctrines of his chosen church. He spent a month at Mother Teresa's Home for the Dying in Calcutta where he observed the act of dying in bold outline. I,too, personally spent several hours with her on a Palm Sunday in Calcutta. When I displayed my great discomfort with the ethical and financial contusions of my profession she gently heard me out, and tilted her head and said "Dr. Bortz, don't worry about any of that just love them." I was prepared for any other discussion point but love was not among my easily assessed talking points. The next day I spent one of the most humbling experiences of my life trying to feed porridge to her group of clearly dying persons. That moment lingers.
Jerry was also governor 40 years ago. In the interim he revitalized Oakland as mayor. When he was mayor he lived in a tinny warehouse. He refused to live in the governor's mansion in Sacramento, and importantly, to myself, he is a runner. He spent six months in Japan in 1988 studying Buddhist meditation.
As he reflected on this bill at age 77 he recorded "I've considered the theologic and religious perspectives that any deliberate shortening of one's life is sinful. In the end I was left to reflect 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. I'm certain however that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill."
We Californians don't like being second in anything important. So it is reassuring that at last we're joined with Oregon, Washington, and Vermont in having such legislation.
As a seasoned physician who was confronted with the circumstances addressed by this bill many dozens of times I joyously celebrate with relief as this passage. I rejoice for other physicians who are often conflicted, but mostly for the persons and families who confront the terminal torment with sparse chance for relief, but now have a chance for respite.
Well signed, Jerry.