Many of us have questions about the end of life option act and how it may affect our practices.\u00a0 When the CMA first surveyed this matter last year, about 20% of physicians who answered the survey were supportive of the legislation and 20% were very opposed to the idea.\u00a0 The law was passed and signed and will take effect on June 9, 2016.\u00a0 The following is a basic outline of what is required to work within the End of Life Option Act.<\/p>\n
For more information, please see the excellent legal brief by the California Medical Association:\u00a0 CMA ON-CALL document #3459 \u201cThe California End of Life Option Act\u201d published in January 2016.<\/p>\n
Eligible individuals:<\/u><\/p>\n The following conditions must all be met:<\/u><\/p>\n The request:<\/u><\/p>\n The witnesses:<\/u><\/p>\n Medical record documentation:<\/u><\/p>\n Five specific forms are required (no substitutes):<\/u><\/p>\n Who is the attending physician?<\/u><\/p>\n The \u201cattending physician\u201d is the physician who has primary responsibility for the health care of the requesting patient and treatment of the patient\u2019s terminal disease.<\/p>\n Who is a consulting physician?<\/u><\/p>\n The \u201cconsulting physician\u201d must be independent from the attending physician and who is qualified by specialty or experience to make a professional diagnosis and prognosis regarding the patient\u2019s terminal disease. The consulting physician cannot be a witness to the written request.\u00a0 The consultant must review the medical records and examine the patient.\u00a0 The consultant must determine that the individual has capacity to make medical decisions and that the individual is acting voluntarily.<\/p>\n Participation:<\/u><\/p>\n Physicians are free to choose whether to participate in this Act. The health care provider who diagnoses a patient with a terminal illness must inform the patient about the right to information about the end-of-life option, but the law states: \u201ca person that elects for reasons of conscience, morality, or ethics, not to engage in activities is not required to take any action in support of an individual\u2019s decision under this law.\u201d\u00a0 The physician does not have to advise or counsel a patient about participation in aid-in-dying activities.\u00a0 Providing a patient, upon request, with a referral to another provider for purposes of participating in this act is not considered \u201cparticipation\u201d in the Act.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Many of us have questions about the end of life option act and how it may affect our practices.\u00a0 When the CMA first surveyed this matter last year, about 20% of physicians who answered the survey were supportive of the … Continue reading \n
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