Nearly 400 people in California resorted to euthanasia in 2017: how the law works

The California State Department of Health has published statistics that, in 2017, euthanasia was used by 374 residents who had incurable diseases.

Фото: Depositphotos

For the care of life, they used special drugs provided by doctors, the newspaper writes. The New York Post.

The law, which came into force in California in 2016, allows adult residents of the state to receive a prescription for death-causing drugs, if the doctor determines that they have no more than six months to live. Patients can administer these medications on their own or ask the doctor for help.

In total, 2017 people received a prescription for 577, but not everyone decided to use them.

Of the 374 deaths, about 90% were over 60 years of age, and about 83% were in hospice care. The average age of Californians who voluntarily died was 74 years.

This data is much higher than those observed in the first 6 months of the law in California, which entered into force on June 9 of the year 2016. During the first six months of its operation, the drug was given to a 191 person, but 111 patients decided to take it.

The Supreme Court of Riverside County in May 2018 of the year ruled that the law was unconstitutional because it was passed at a special, rather than at the regular session of the California legislature. However, last week, the Court of Appeal reinstated the law, giving its opponents the right to appeal until July 2.

Euthanasia involving doctors is legal in Colorado, Montana, Vermont and Washington, as well as in Washington, DC.

Critics argue that the law may encourage people to make hasty decisions, and also underscore the risks of misdiagnosis. Proponents say that this rule gives people the opportunity to alleviate something that might otherwise be a lingering and painful death.

In order to get a lethal drug, you must twice make the appropriate request to your doctor, the period between requests must be at least 15 days.

The 374 people who died as a result of euthanasia in the 2017 year include the 11 people who received the drug in the 2016 year, but they took it last year.

Another 86 person in 2017 got the drug, but they died of the disease before they took it.

Read also on ForumDaily:

In the US, looking for more humane ways of the death penalty: what options are possible

Former Auschwitz prisoner asks Israeli authorities to legitimize death

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.