I have some great news to share! Yesterday a federal judge in California dismissed a lawsuit seeking to void the state’s medical aid-in-dying law, the End of Life Option Act (EOLOA), in effect since June 2016.

In October, Compassion & Choices and our partners filed a motion on behalf of three California patients with disabilities and two doctors. This motion requested to intervene in a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s revised End of Life Option Act (EOLOA), alleging discrimination against people with disabilities. It followed our motion to dismiss the suit in September and two motions from the state defendants.

The judge’s decision to “dismiss the claims with prejudice,” barring the plaintiffs from refiling the same claim, upholds the rights of terminally ill Californians to choose a peaceful death.

Since the EOLOA’s passage in 2015 it has remained under near-constant attack by opponents seeking to invalidate or weaken it and Compassion & Choices and our allies have been there to protect it at every turn. We know this will not be the last attempt to undo our progress in California and we are committed to defending the law when that happens.

Celebrate this victory with a gift to the 2024 Annual Fund, and an anonymous donor will match your gift dollar for dollar!

The court’s ruling represents a triumph for dying patients and the physicians who provide this essential option. As the largest state with a medical aid-in-dying law, safeguarding the EOLOA is vital to our mission of empowering individuals confronting unbearable suffering.

This victory wouldn’t have been achievable without Compassion & Choices donors, whose contributions provided the resources necessary for our intervention. Their generosity protected the EOLOA against claims of discrimination and coercion, ensuring the law remains intact.

However, our work is far from over. As we celebrate this success, we must remain vigilant, as this dismissal could be appealed and opponents of medical aid in dying continue to attack these laws nationwide. That’s why your support of our 2024 Annual Fund is vital to defending the full range of end-of-life options.

Defend our Progress: Match My Gift

Together, we can uphold the autonomy of dying people. Help us cultivate compassion by donating to our 2024 Annual Fund today.

Thank you for your commitment,

Mickey MacIntyre
Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer
Compassion & Choices

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