Many people have strong beliefs about whether a person should have the right to die when they choose—to end a person’s own perceived pain and suffering, especially when they are terminally ill. These beliefs are often rooted in religion, morals, ethics, law (government-made and natural), and spirituality. Depending on a person’s beliefs or point of view, the issue and related laws may also be referred to as death with dignity, assisted suicide, aid in dying, physician assisted suicide, euthanasia, end of life options, and patient choice and control at the end of life.

Currently eight states and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) have laws (statutes) that permit persons to choose when to end their lives under certain circumstances. These states include (1) California, (2) Colorado, (3) Hawaii, (4) Maine, (5) New Jersey, (6) Oregon, (7) Vermont, and (8) Washington. And although the state of Montana does not have such a statute its supreme court has ruled that nothing in the state’s law prohibits a physician from honoring a terminally ill but mentally competent patient’s request to prescribe medication to expedite the patient’s death. In states without such laws a physician or other person’s act of assisting a person with suicide is generally subject to criminal prosecution for murder or other criminal charges.

In California, the End of Life Option Act allows terminally ill adults with the mental capacity to make medical decisions to be prescribed an aid-in-dying medication if certain conditions are met. These conditions include having a prognosis of six months or less to live, voluntarily requesting the medication, and being able to self-administer it. The law aims to provide a legal option for those who wish to end their suffering due to a terminal illness, while also including safeguards to protect against coercion and to ensure informed decision-making. This law reflects the state's recognition of the right to death with dignity, and it is one of the few states in the U.S. where such a choice is legally permitted. It is important to note that this law is distinct from euthanasia, as the patient must self-administer the medication. Assisting a suicide outside the provisions of this law remains illegal in California and can result in criminal prosecution.