Which US state legalized assisted suicide in 2015?

The US state that legalized assisted suicide in 2015 is California.

In 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the End of Life Option Act, which allows qualified terminally ill patients to request and obtain a prescription for medication to end their lives. To be eligible, patients must be at least 18 years old, mentally competent, have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less, and be able to self-administer the medication.

California was the fifth US state to legalize assisted suicide, following Oregon, Washington, Vermont, and Montana. As of 2023, a total of ten US states and the District of Columbia have legalized assisted suicide or euthanasia in some form.

Assisted suicide and euthanasia remain controversial issues, with supporters arguing that they provide a humane and compassionate option for terminally ill patients, while opponents argue that they violate the sanctity of life and could lead to abuse and coercion of vulnerable patients.

California legalized assisted suicide in 2015. The California End of Life Option Act was passed by the California State Legislature in September 2015 and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on October 5, 2015. The law went into effect in June 2016.

The California End of Life Option Act allows terminally ill adults to request and receive a prescription from their doctor for medication that they can use to end their own lives. To be eligible for the law, patients must be at least 18 years old, be a resident of California, and have been diagnosed with a terminal illness that is expected to lead to their death within six months. Patients must also be able to make and communicate their own decisions, and they must be free from coercion.

Before a patient can receive a prescription for medication under the California End of Life Option Act, they must have two separate consultations with a doctor. The first consultation must be used to discuss the patient's diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options. The second consultation must be used to confirm the patient's decision to end their life and to answer any questions that the patient may have.

After the second consultation, the doctor must write a prescription for the medication that the patient can use to end their life. The patient must then wait 15 days before they can take the medication. During this time, the patient is encouraged to talk to their family and friends about their decision.

If the patient changes their mind at any point, they can cancel their request and the doctor will not write a prescription for the medication.

The California End of Life Option Act has been controversial since it was passed. Some people believe that it is a compassionate way for terminally ill patients to end their lives on their own terms. Others believe that it is morally wrong to help someone end their life, even if they are terminally ill.

The California End of Life Option Act is the first law of its kind in California. It is also the first law of its kind in the United States to be passed through the legislature.