Support for Those Choosing to Pass with Dignity
At American River Hospice Services, we understand that making decisions about end-of-life care is an incredibly personal and profound journey. With the California End of Life Option Act’s introduction in 2016, we recognize the importance of having options available that align with individual beliefs, values, and medical circumstances.
As an organization, we have chosen to support our patients – and their loved ones – who choose to participate in the End of Life Option Act for select patients that qualify as part of our overall hospice service program. We know this is as intensely personal decision as anyone is able to make, and we are here to discuss it with you should this be a service that you or a loved one requires.
What is the End of Life Option Act?
The End of Life Option Act is an option for terminally ill adult patients in California to consider to consider passing on their own with the help of medical professionals. It is an option available to patients themselves that have the capacity and willingness to make medical decisions for themselves, and want to obtain a prescription “aid-in-dying” medication. All patients must meat very specific criteria and conditions in order to qualify and obtain this medication.
The end of life option act is typically a last resort for patients that are in pain and are likely to experience a difficult journey after all other medical attempts have failed. It’s about choice, dignity, and control at a stage of life where these elements are most vital.
Who is Eligible for the End of Life Option Act?
The End of Life Option Act requires a very specific process to determine eligibility, and a patient must qualify for the entirety of qualifying factors in order to make this choice. Eligibility is determined through a defined process to ensure the patient’s voluntariness and compliance with the law:
- Diagnosis – The patient must be diagnosed with an incurable, terminal disease diagnosed by an attending physician, and that illness must have a second opinion from a specialist confirming it is terminal.
- Voluntary Request – The patient must voluntarily express the wish to receive a prescription for an aid-in-dying drug to end life with dignity on their own terms. It must be verified that they are making the request of their own free will.
- Residency in California – For a patient to qualify for the end of life option act, they must be a resident of the state of California, verified through means such as a driver’s license, voter registration, property lease/ownership, or recent tax filing.
- Documentation and Requests – The patient must make two oral requests, a minimum of 15 days apart, and a written request to their attending physician. It cannot be a request that is made in haste or during a medical episode.
- Self-Administration – The patient must, according to their doctor, have the “physical and mental ability” to self-administer the aid-in-dying drug, so that they can always choose to change their mind until the drug is taken.
- Age Requirement – The patient must be 18 years or older and legally able to make decisions for themselves.
- Direct Request – The end of life option act is only available for patients that can make the request themselves, of their own free will, and through no influence of others. No other person (such as a family member with power of attorney) can make the request on the patient’s behalf.
These qualifications mean that the decision to choose the End of Life Option must be fully thought out by the patient, after careful and extended consideration, and when the reasons for the choice are verified by multiple medical specialists.
What Can You Expect from Our Hospice Team?
The End of Life Option is considered a part of our American River Hospice Service program. We do not administer the medications or encourage their use. Instead, we provide several support services for those within our care, including:
- Emotional and Spiritual Support – Our team is here to help with compassionate emotional and spiritual support tailored to each patient’s needs.
- Comfort Care – We specialize in providing comfort and alleviating symptoms, focusing on the patient’s overall well-being.
- Education – Our team can educate both the patient and their family on the process of requesting, qualifying for, and obtaining the aid-in-dying medication.
Some families ask us about our involvement within the decision. We want to make it clear that the choice is solely up to the patient, and our involvement in that choice is limited. We cannot and do not provide:
- Administration – We cannot participate in administering the aid-in-dying medication.
- Certification and Qualification – We cannot certify or qualify the patient for the aid-in-dying process and drug.
- Qualified Diagnosis – Our medical director cannot be one of the physicians qualifying the patient for the End of Life Option. It must be a diagnosis provided by a third party or parties.
Our role is not to support those in our hospice care that choose to use this service, both the patient and their families.
We’re Here to Support You
Choosing the End of Life Option is a profound and highly individual decision. At American River Hospice Services, we are committed to supporting our patients and their families with care, dignity, and respect, ensuring that the process aligns with the legal criteria and the patient’s personal values.
We are located in the Sacramento area, and our in-home hospice services are available throughout the region, including Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Fair Oaks, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Roseville, and throughout Sacramento, Yolo, El Dorado, and Placer County.
If you would like more information about this option or any of our services, please feel free to contact us. Your journey is our priority, and we’re here to walk with you every step of the way.