The law passed in California after 29-year-old Brittany Maynard, who was dying from brain cancer, had to move to Oregon in 2014 so she could end her life. Doctor-assisted deaths are also legal in Colorado, Montana, Vermont, Washington state and Washington, D.C.
Critics argue the law can prompt hasty decisions and misdiagnoses and less use of palliative care, in which dying people can be sedated to relieve suffering. Supporters say it gives people the choice to ease what otherwise might be a lingering and painful death.
State health officials reported Friday that 632 people started to use the law last year by making two verbal requests to their physicians at least 15 days apart. The data comes from death certificates and forms doctors were required to submit.
It said 241 doctors prescribed the drugs last year.
The 374 people who died include 11 people who were prescribed drugs in 2016 but died last year.
Another 86 people were prescribed the lethal drugs but died without taking them, while the fate of the remaining 128 people wasn’t reported.
Of those who died from the drugs, nearly 10 percent were under 60; 77 percent were 60-89; and the rest were older than 90. The median age was 74.
About 89 percent were white, 51 percent were women, and 73 percent had some college education.
About 68 percent had cancer, while others had ALS or Parkinson’s diseases, cardiovascular or respiratory diseases
Article Appeared @https://www.dailysabah.com/americas/2018/06/23/nearly-400-people-used-california-doctor-assisted-suicide-law-in-2017