Governor signs End-of-Life Option Act, giving Californians the right to die.

Assisted suicide will become legal in California, following a prolonged legislative battle to pass a bill giving terminally ill patients the right to end their own lives. 

Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law today, and sent a letter to California lawmakers explaining his decision: "ABx2 15 is not an ordinary bill because it deals with life and death," Brown wrote. "The crux of the matter is whether the state of California should continue to make it a crime for a dying person to end his life, no matter how great his pain or suffering."

Brown goes on to explain that he considered the opposition materials provided by physicians and by religious leaders, arguing that theologically ending one's life—regardless of circumstances—is wrong. 

"In addition, I have discussed this matter with a Catholic bishop, two of my own doctors and former classmates and friends who take varied, contradictory and nuanced positions," Brown wrote. 

"In the end, I was left to reflect on what I would want in the face of my own death."

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Making the End-of-Life Option Act into state law is a significant legislative victory for State Sen. Bill Monning, D-Carmel. 

He co-authored the original version of the End-of-Life Option Act, SB 128, with State Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, in January.

They withdrew their bill before it went to the Assembly Health Committee, concerned it didn't have the necessary support to pass there.

So a copy of their bill was re-introduced as ABx2 15 by assemblymembers in an extraordinary session on health, which is intended to focus on health finance-related issues. 

"This is huge...  big day for California, only dampened by the pain and suffering of those and their loved ones suffering from terminal illness," Monning wrote by email moments after the governor's office made the announcement. 

Brown's signature also means that advocacy groups can rest easy; they'd indicated plans to get a ballot initiative to voters next year if the Legislature failed to act.  

The law will allow adult patients who are mentally competent and have a terminal illness, with a prognosis of six months or less to live, based on an evaluation by two physicians, to seek a lethal prescription.