[6] The bill was modeled on Oregon's Ballot Measure 16 Death with Dignity Act which has been in force since 1994, after the California Medical Association, which represents physicians in the state, withdrew its longstanding opposition on May 20, 2015, by the recommendation of its Council of Ethical Affairs.
[16] The law requires that an individual must be over the age of 18 and possessing full capacity to make an independent decision to end their own life, as well as be able to administer the drugs themself.
[1] The patient must also be certified by the physician as having a life limiting illness with estimated less than 6 months to live and other palliative care options must have been previously discussed and considered.
According to CNN, this is done to protect patient confidentiality, in addition to avoiding potential legal complications regarding the decedent's estate and life insurance that may arise when a death is registered as a suicide.
[18] California residents who have spoken to the media to publicize the law and are known to have exercised their right to die include: ex-Peace Corps and homeless charity worker Robert Stone,[13] former Marine and insurance broker Tom House,[16] right-to-die campaigner Brittany Maynard who moved to Oregon to be able to fulfill her right to die,[16] retired psychologist Tom Minor who initially failed to find a doctor to support him,[8] Democratic politician Warren Church.
[20] It has been suggested that the bill may exclude Californians based on income and medical care coverage, with Medicare and other insurers not covering the cost of barbiturates to end life.