Rodriguez: California’s death-with-dignity law should stand

On May 15, a Riverside County judge overturned California's death-with-dignity law, determining the law was improperly passed during a special session the Legislature called to deal with matters of health care funding.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement that he will contest the ruling.

While the ruling appears to have been based on a mere technicality, perhaps one that won't even hold up to further scrutiny, the judge's ruling has invigorated opponents of the law.

Setting aside whether it was appropriately passed or not - beats me, I'm not a lawyer - the California End of Life Option Act is sound policy that provides a dignified and peaceful exit for individuals suffering tremendously from terminal diseases.

Passed in 2015, the law allows qualifying adults diagnosed with a terminal illness and who are deemed mentally capable of making medical decisions access to lethal medication for if and when they decide its time to pass on.

The numerous safeguards in the law - including various hurdles for requests to be made and requirements that two physicians must conclude the patient has six months or less to live - have proven effective at preventing any conceivable abuses of the law.

This is an option for individuals who are suffering, of sound mind and capable of making decisions for themselves.

So long as the law isn't be abused, there is no legitimate reason opponents should be able to use the force of government to prevent such people from making such a profoundly personal decision.

For the sake of those who might need this law, I hope the law either holds up or the situation is corrected accordingly.

Sal Rodriguez is an editorial writer and columnist for the Southern California News Group.

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