California has become the 5th US state to legalised assisted suicide. The state’s Governor, Jerry Brown signed the bill into law yesterday.
The law enables and allows doctors to prescribe medication to end a patient’s life if two doctors are in agreement that the person has six months or less to live, and is mentally competent.
The law was passed despite fierce opposition from religious and disability rights campaigners, and will come into effect on January 1. It includes a clause to make it a crime to pressure anyone into requesting or taking the lethal drugs.
Doctor-assisted suicide is currently legal in the states of Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont.