Right to Die Bill in California

As of Monday 5th October 2015, the American state of California has passed a very controversial (not only in American but all over the world too) bill - the Right to Die. It has become the 5th US state to do so. 

The new bill states that if you have less than 6 months left to live, and are in extreme pain and discomfort, two doctors can agree that ending your life early would be the best and the kindest thing to do. 

The Californian Governor, Jerry Brown,  pointed out that this decision was also a personal one, explaining that if he found himself in a critically ill position he would like the choice to be able to end his own life:

"I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain," he wrote in a letter addressed to state lawmakers. "I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill.

"And I wouldn't deny that right to others."

However, not everybody is in favour of this new law. The Californians Against Assisted Suicide said that Brown's argument was flawed, and highlighted that the new scheme would disadvantage the poor that can't afford the same level of health care as others in the first place. Others argued the huge amounts of Americans that would be able to benefit from the Bill. Barbara Coombs Lee, the head of Compassions and Choices, noted that 1 in 10 Americans will be provided with this choice. Some people are scared that there will be a massive push into the cheaper lethal medical care that is now available. 

Brittany Maynard helped this movement become possible. She was diagnosed with brain cancer on New Years Day 2014, and she decided that she wanted a choice of how she wanted to live her life. She moved from California to Oregon (where the Right to Die Bill had been passed), and ended her life with an overdose. Before she did so, she explained that she didn't want to live her last few days with incurable pain and having to rely on other people, she also didn't want someone else to make the choice for her that she has to live till the illness kills her, not die when she wants to. Others soon championed the reason for her death and bought forward the Right to Die Bill in California.

It is a very controversial topic that will have people talking and arguing about in many months and years to come. Other US states will probably follow this Bill and maybe even other countries. One thing is for certain though, there will be an upset no matter what happens, whether it is pro-life or pro-choice.