SACRAMENTO – California ’s largest doctors’ group has added its support to a bill that would give Californians the same kind of choices available through Oregon ’s landmark Death with Dignity law. 

The California Association of Physician Groups announced its support for AB 374, by Assembly members Patty Berg, Lloyd Levine and Fabian Núñez. The group represents thousands of doctors in organized medical groups throughout California , and is one of the largest in the nation.

“The California Association of Physician Group members take seriously our principal duty to heal and comfort our patients, as well as to prevent avoidable suffering. When physicians can no longer heal the disease or alleviate the symptoms, terminally-ill patients have a right to control the circumstances of their death,” said Wells Shoemaker, M.D., medical director for California Association of Physician Groups. “We welcome the fact that physicians and patients may have a spectrum of views about this delicate subject, but the insistence upon dignity, comfort, and privacy unites nearly every compassionate individual.”

AB 374, the California Compassionate Choices Act, would make it legal for a terminally-ill patient of sound mind to control their own dying. It is modeled on the Oregon law, which was enacted by voters a decade ago. 

The measure failed passage last year amid opposition from religious conservatives, who reminded lawmakers that at least one doctor’s group stood against the bill. Support from CAPG is significant because it represents a much larger number of physicians, who have voted to advocate for the bill. 

“For the past three years, Assemblywoman Berg and I have brought forth legislation to improve health care options for terminally-ill Californians,” Assemblymember Levine said. “This year, we were pleased to add the powerful support of the Speaker to our cause, and now comes the fantastic news that CAPG has joined the fight. CAPG represents 150 of California ’s leading physician groups across California and is committed to improving health care in our state. We’re thrilled to have them on our side.” 

The California Association of Physician Groups (CAPG) is comprised of over thousands of doctors in more than 150 medical groups serving some 15 million Californians.

“CAPG supports AB 374 because it provides a legal option for terminally ill patients to talk with their doctor about all options available to them,” Shoemaker said. “This bill ensures that any end-of-life decisions are made responsibly, fully informed, in the private context of the doctor-patient relationship.”

“Our opponents like to say that physicians don’t support this choice,” said Berg, D-Eureka. “This should put that argument to rest. Here is a huge group of doctors, and they’re standing up in favor of patient choice.”

The concept of aided dying has consistently polled well among California voters, about 70 percent of whom say they would like to have the choice if they were faced with terminal illness and imminent death.