California doctors may be required to explain end-of-life rights to patients
The state Senate passes a measure that calls on physicians to provide terminal patients with all options at the time of diagnosis. Many doctors oppose the bill.
SACRAMENTO — Despite widespread opposition from physicians, the state Senate passed a measure today that would require doctors, at the time they determine that a patient is going to die, to explain the right to refuse or withdraw from life-sustaining treatment.
The 21-17 vote on legislation by Assemblywoman Patty Berg (D-Eureka) comes a year after lawmakers shelved a different Berg bill that would have gone further and allowed terminally ill people to hasten their deaths.
AB 2747, acted on today, requires a doctor at the time of a terminal diagnosis to provide all options, when requested by the patient.
"If you have been diagnosed as dying, you have a right to ask questions and a right to have them answered," said Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica). "Right now, all too often, your questions are brushed aside."
But Sen. Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley), an oral surgeon, said many physicians who treat cancer patients oppose the latest bill as meddling at a time when patients need compassion.
"What they don't need is another governmental intrusion into the relationship between themselves and their doctor," Aanestad said.
Requiring patients to receive "a laundry list developed by Sacramento politicians" may lead to rash decisions to hasten death before treatment is attempted, he said.
The bill could be subject to a later vote but otherwise would go back to the Assembly for concurrence on minor amendments if the current tally holds.
patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com
