California judge indicates dismissal of right-to-die lawsuit
Source: AP
SAN DIEGO (AP) —A judge strongly indicated Friday he will dismiss a lawsuit against the state by a single mom given only months to live and other California right-to-die advocates who want doctors to be allowed to prescribe fatal medication for terminally ill people.
During a hearing in which two of the plaintiffs broke down in tears, San Diego Superior Court Judge Gregory Pollack said the court is not the place to change the current law that prohibits physicians from prescribing such drugs and that he would issue a written decision Monday.
The lawsuit was brought against the state by Christy O'Donnell, two other terminally ill California residents and a San Diego doctor. Attorneys on both sides agreed that dismissal was certain, and the plaintiffs vowed to appeal.
O'Donnell, who turned 47 on Friday, has been diagnosed with Stage IV cancer of the left lung, which has spread to her brain, liver, spine and rib. The Santa Clarita woman said she will likely not live through the appeals process.
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/46dbd8f13a574b8db33f14071db6b428/california-judge-rule-right-die-lawsuit