2020 California Code
Health and Safety Code - HSC
DIVISION 1 - ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH
PART 1.85 - End of Life Option Act
Section 443.11.
(a) A request for an aid-in-dying drug as authorized by this part shall be in the following form:
| REQUEST FOR AN AID-IN-DYING DRUG TO END MY LIFE IN A HUMANE AND DIGNIFIED MANNER I, ......................................................, am an adult of sound mind and a resident of the State of California. |
| I am suffering from ................, which my attending physician has determined is in its terminal phase and which has been medically confirmed. |
| I have been fully informed of my diagnosis and prognosis, the nature of the aid-in-dying drug to be prescribed and potential associated risks, the expected result, and the feasible alternatives or additional treatment options, including comfort care, hospice care, palliative care, and pain control. |
| I request that my attending physician prescribe an aid-in-dying drug that will end my life in a humane and dignified manner if I choose to take it, and I authorize my attending physician to contact any pharmacist about my request. |
| INITIAL ONE: |
| ............ I have informed one or more members of my family of my decision and taken their opinions into consideration. |
| ............ I have decided not to inform my family of my decision. |
| ............ I have no family to inform of my decision. |
| I understand that I have the right to withdraw or rescind this request at any time. |
| I understand the full import of this request and I expect to die if I take the aid-in-dying drug to be prescribed. My attending physician has counseled me about the possibility that my death may not be immediately upon the consumption of the drug. |
| I make this request voluntarily, without reservation, and without being coerced. |
| Signed:.............................................. |
| Dated:............................................... |
| DECLARATION OF WITNESSES |
| We declare that the person signing this request: |
| (a) is personally known to us or has provided proof of identity; |
| (b) voluntarily signed this request in our presence; |
| (c) is an individual whom we believe to be of sound mind and not under duress, fraud, or undue influence; and |
| (d) is not an individual for whom either of us is the attending physician, consulting physician, or mental health specialist. |
| ............................Witness 1/Date |
| ............................Witness 2/Date |
| NOTE: Only one of the two witnesses may be a relative (by blood, marriage, registered domestic partnership, or adoption) of the person signing this request or be entitled to a portion of the person’s estate upon death. Only one of the two witnesses may own, operate, or be employed at a health care facility where the person is a patient or resident. |
(b) (1) The written language of the request shall be written in the same translated language as any conversations, consultations, or interpreted conversations or consultations between a patient and his or her attending or consulting physicians.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the written request may be prepared in English even when the conversations or consultations or interpreted conversations or consultations were conducted in a language other than English if the English language form includes an attached interpreter’s declaration that is signed under penalty of perjury. The interpreter’s declaration shall state words to the effect that:
| I, (INSERT NAME OF INTERPRETER), am fluent in English and (INSERT TARGET LANGUAGE). |
On (insert date) at approximately (insert time), I read the “Request for an Aid-In-Dying Drug to End My Life” to (insert name of individual/patient) in (insert target language). |
Mr./Ms. (insert name of patient/qualified individual) affirmed to me that he/she understood the content of this form and affirmed his/her desire to sign this form under his/her own power and volition and that the request to sign the form followed consultations with an attending and consulting physician. |
I declare that I am fluent in English and (insert target language) and further declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. |
Executed at (insert city, county, and state) on this (insert day of month) of (insert month), (insert year). |
X______Interpreter signature |
X______Interpreter printed name |
X______Interpreter address |
(3) An interpreter whose services are provided pursuant to paragraph (2) shall not be related to the qualified individual by blood, marriage, registered domestic partnership, or adoption or be entitled to a portion of the person’s estate upon death. An interpreter whose services are provided pursuant to paragraph (2) shall meet the standards promulgated by the California Healthcare Interpreting Association or the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care or other standards deemed acceptable by the department for health care providers in California.
(c) The final attestation form given by the attending physician to the qualified individual at the time the attending physician writes the prescription shall appear in the following form:
| FINAL ATTESTATION FOR AN AID-IN-DYING DRUG TO END MY LIFE IN A HUMANE AND DIGNIFIED MANNER I, ......................................................, am an adult of sound mind and a resident of the State of California. |
| I am suffering from ................, which my attending physician has determined is in its terminal phase and which has been medically confirmed. |
| I have been fully informed of my diagnosis and prognosis, the nature of the aid-in-dying drug to be prescribed and potential associated risks, the expected result, and the feasible alternatives or additional treatment options, including comfort care, hospice care, palliative care, and pain control. |
| I have received the aid-in-dying drug and am fully aware that this aid-in-dying drug will end my life in a humane and dignified manner. |
| INITIAL ONE: |
| ............ I have informed one or more members of my family of my decision and taken their opinions into consideration. |
| ............ I have decided not to inform my family of my decision. |
| ............ I have no family to inform of my decision. |
| My attending physician has counseled me about the possibility that my death may not be immediately upon the consumption of the drug. |
| I make this decision to ingest the aid-in-dying drug to end my life in a humane and dignified manner. I understand I still may choose not to ingest the drug and by signing this form I am under no obligation to ingest the drug. I understand I may rescind this request at any time. |
| Signed:.............................................. |
| Dated:............................................... |
| Time:................................................. |
(1) Within 48 hours prior to the individual self-administering the aid-in-dying drug, the individual shall complete the final attestation form. If aid-in-dying medication is not returned or relinquished upon the patient’s death as required in Section 443.20, the completed form shall be delivered by the individual’s health care provider, family member, or other representative to the attending physician to be included in the patient’s medical record.
(2) Upon receiving the final attestation form the attending physician shall add this form to the medical records of the qualified individual.
(Added by Stats. 2015, 2nd Ex. Sess., Ch. 1, Sec. 1. (AB 15 2x) Effective June 9, 2016. Repealed as of January 1, 2026, pursuant to Section 443.215.)
