A November 5, 2021, article in the San Jose Mercury News describes how a group of distinguished veterans are challenging restrictions that would force them to leave their homes to access California’s Medical Aid In Dying law.
The state of California has issued an order denying access to the law to the 625 residents of Napa County’s Yountville veterans home and to other facilities across the state, supposedly since about a quarter of the budget for these facilities is provided by the federal government and a federal law prohibits federal money being used for aid in dying.
“Without the same rights afforded other Californians under the act, the veterans’ only option is to leave – or stay and risk misery. If the veteran leaves, their spouse must leave too and cannot return.”
“‘I’ve watched three of my friends die here who were in apin and suffering. It’s unacceptable,’ said Jim Thomas, 86, a decorated Vietnam War-era US Air Force officer and pilot.”