Keeping You Connected

The SBCMS keeps you up to date on the latest news,
policy developments, and events

SBCMS News/Media

rss

Learn patient communication skills for the End of Life Option Act

On October 13, 2016, the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC) is hosting a one-day interactive workshop, “California End of Life Option Act: Key Concepts and Skills for Providers.” The workshop will take place at the San Diego County Medical Society (5575 Ruffin Road, Suite 250) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Workshop attendees will have the chance to review key aspects of the law and learn how it could impact providers and organizations. Attendees will also have the opportunity to practice conversation skills for engaging patients to ...

The End of Life Option Act takes effect on June 9: What physicians and patients need to know

On June 9, 2016, California will become the fifth state in the nation to allow physicians to prescribe terminally ill patients medication to end their lives. California's new "End of Life Option Act" permits terminally ill adult patients with the capacity to make medical decisions to be prescribed an aid-in-dying medication if certain conditions are met. Recognizing the complexity of this new law, the California Medical Association (CMA) has published legal guidance in a question-and-answer format intended to help physicians and patients understand and navigate the law's requirements. The ...

CMA publishes physician guidance for the End of Life Option Act

The California Medical Association (CMA) has published new legal guidance intended to help physicians and patients understand the End of Life Option Act, which was passed in 2015 and makes physician aid-in-dying legal in California. The document is in a question-and-answer format, and is intended to help both physicians and patients navigate the complicated law. “As physicians, there are a lot of questions about requirements under the new law, required documentation and forms, requests for the drug, consulting physicians and so on,” said CMA President Steve Larson, M.D. “There certainly will ...

CMA changes stance on physician aid in dying, takes neutral position on End of Life Option Act

The California Medical Association (CMA) has changed its long-standing position on the issue of physician aid in dying, and has taken a neutral position on Senate Bill 128 (Monning/Wolk), the End of Life Option Act. The organization’s physician leadership decided to change CMA’s decades-old policy after several committee hearings and an extensive amount of discussion by members. A final vote was taken by the CMA Board of Trustees in April, making CMA the first state medical association in the nation to change its stance on physician aid in dying. “The decision ...

California Medical Association removes opposition to physician aid in dying bill

Sacramento – Today, the California Medical Association (CMA) announced that it has become the first state medical association in the nation to change its position on the long-debated issue of physician aid in dying. By removing decades-old organizational policy, CMA has eliminated its historic opposition and is now officially neutral on Senate Bill 128 (Monning/Wolk), the End of Life Option Act. “As physicians, we want to provide the best care possible for our patients. However, despite the remarkable medical breakthroughs we’ve made and the world-class hospice or palliative care ...