End of Life Option Act takes effect June 9, 2016
The End of Life Option Act, effective June 9th, 2016, is a law that allows an adult with a terminal disease and the capacity to make health care decisions to request and be prescribed an aid-in-dying drug.
An adult with the capacity to make medical decisions and with a terminal illness may request to receive the prescription for an aid-in-dying drug if ALL the following are met:
1) The individual’s attending physician has diagnosed the individual with a terminal disease.
2) The individual has voluntarily expressed the wish to receive a prescription for an aid-in-dying drug.
3) The individual is a resident of California and is able to establish residency through at least one of the following:
a. Possession of a California Driver License or other identification issued by the State of California
b. Registration to vote in California
c. Evidence that the person owns or leases property in California. This includes renting an apartment
d. Filing of a California tax return for the most recent tax year
4) The individual documents his or her request by completing the form The Request for an Aid–in-Dying Drug to End My Life in a Humane and Dignified Manner, and also the Final Attestation for an Aid-in-Dying Drug to End my Life in a Humane and Dignified Manner within 48 hours of self-administering the drug.
It is important to stress that the resident must be their own responsible party, able to make their own decision and be able to self-administer the medication. The request cannot come from a family member or any other responsible party.
The California Hospital Association has graciously shared with CAHF their End-Of Life Option Act handout, as well as talking points on the topic.
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Toolkits developed by the CAHF Quality Improvement Subcommittee:
“The Coalition for Compassionate Care” is a non profit corporation devoted to promoting quality and compassionate end of life care to all Californians. They have a special site dedicated to nursing homes with a wealth of resources available for free download. Access these resources. New POLST law starting Jan. 1, 2016. Read more
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) is a form that gives seriously-ill patients more control over their end-of-life care, including medical treatment, extraordinary measures (such as a ventilator or feeding tube) and CPR. Printed on bright pink paper, and signed by both a doctor and patient, POLST can prevent unwanted or ineffective treatments, reduce patient and family suffering, and ensure that a patient's wishes are honored.
The following link provides a summary of the key revisions to the Model Policy for Skilled Nursing Facilities.
Effective January 1, 2016, nurse practitioners and physician assistants – under the supervision of a physician and within their scope of practice – are authorized to sign POLST forms and make them actionable medical orders.