California’s End of Life Option Act was passed on October 5, 2015 and entered into effect June 9, 2016. The law allows mentally capable, terminally ill patients to request “Aid-in-Dying” — a prescription for a medication that will end their life at their own chosen time. Lonny Shavelson, MD, founded Bay Area End Of Life…
Lonny Shavelson, MD
Lonny Shavelson, MD heads the Bay Area End of Life Options team of consultants and patient advocates. He worked for 29 years as an emergency department physician, then 7 as a primary care physician in a clinic for immigrants and refugees. He is now a consultant, educator and physician for patients at the end of their lives…
Physician Aid-in-Dying
What is Physician Aid-in-Dying? The California End of Life Option Act provides that a person who has six months or less to live and is mentally capable of making medical decisions, has the option to request from their doctor a prescription for a medication which they can take to end unbearable suffering and to die…
Our Consultations
Summary of Events and Fees: While the focus of our practice is on medical aid in dying, our broader goal is to help provide a smooth and peaceful death that may or may not include medical aid in dying. To get started: Fill out an intake form and return it to us. Thalia DeWolf,…
Steps for Aid-in-Dying
California’s End-of-Life Option Act outlines specific requirements and procedures before an aid-in-dying prescription can be given to a patient, and before the patient can take the aid-in-dying medications: Attending Physician: The patient must select and be cared for by an end-of-life attending physician, who supervises the entire aid-in-dying process and reports the documentation and results to…
Additional Information & Forms
End-of-Life Option Act Forms Click and download if needed (Also available from the California Department of Public Health) End Of Life Option Act Patient’s forms: Patient’s aid-in-dying_request Patient’s final_attestation Attending Physician forms: Attending Physician Forms Submission Instructions Attending Physician Checklist Compliance Form Attending Physician Follow-up Form Consulting Physician Form: Consulting Physician Compliance Form Interpreter form: Interpreter_declaration…