Dive Brief:
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On Monday, California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed the “right to die” measure.
- The bill was recently reintroduced in a special healthcare legislative session called by Brown.
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The measure will allow physicians to prescribe lethal doses of drugs to terminally ill patients who are mentally competent adults and expected to die within six months, reports the Los Angeles Times. California has become the fifth state to allow much a law.
Dive Insight:
As reported in Healthcare Dive, California Medical Association removed its opposition to the measure this spring. However, it had strong opposition from the Catholic Church.
The law, modeled after Oregon's, will take effect 90 days after the Legislature ends its special session. January is the “earliest likely adjournment,” reports the Times.