Restrictions Tightened in Assisted Suicide Measure

Authors of legislation (AB 374) that would legalize physician-assisted suicide for some terminally ill patients in California hope new amendments to the bill will help attract support from undecided lawmakers, KPBS' "KPBS News" reports.

The main amendments would tighten eligibility for who could request a life-ending prescription. The amendment leaves that option open to people who have only three months to live, compared with six months under the original bill (Russ, "KPBS News," KPBS, 5/22).

Assembly members Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) and Patty Berg (D-Santa Rosa) co-authored physician-assisted suicide legislation last year that was passed in the Assembly but defeated by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Levine and Berg reintroduced the measure this year along with Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) (California Healthline, 4/3).

A transcript and audio of the KPBS segment are available online.