California legalises assisted suicide

Physician-assisted suicide will become legal in California under a bill signed into law on Monday by Democrat Governor Jerry Brown.

The law allows doctors to prescribe medication to end a patient’s life if two doctors agree the person only has six months to live and is mentally competent.

The California bill was strongly opposed by some religious groups, including the Roman Catholic Church, as well as advocates for people with disabilities, who said unscrupulous caregivers or relatives could pressure vulnerable patients to take their own lives.

The law, which goes into effect January 1, makes it a felony to pressure anyone into requesting or taking assisted suicide drugs.