A California State Bar judge has exonerated two Humboldt County attorneys of charges that they committed serious ethics violations during their handling of a local right-to-die case that resulted in a $1 million settlement. In a 45-page written ruling filed yesterday, Judge Phong Wang found that Deputy County Counsel Natalie Duke and Blair Angus, who […]
Right to die
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Newsom is Running Out of Time to Sign Bills
T-minus three days. That’s how much time Gov. Gavin Newsom has left to decide the fate of the remaining bills on his desk — and as the deadline draws nearer, the buildup for big-ticket and contentious proposals is getting more intense. The direct impact of Newsom’s decisions was particularly apparent Wednesday, when he signed a […]
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Seeking Settlement
After squaring off against the county of Humboldt in court to defend a Carlotta man’s right to die on his own terms, Eureka attorney Allison Jackson is turning to the Board of Supervisors to bring closure to the case. Jackson successfully contested maneuvers by Adult Protective Services and the Public Guardian’s Office to override Dick […]
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‘Profoundly Disturbing’
Dick and Judy Magney knew his life was drawing to a close when he was admitted to St. Joseph Hospital in February of 2015. The 73-year-old former truck driver was suffering from a series of incurable long-term ailments. His quality of life was waning. Pain had become a constant companion. The couple had prepared for […]
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Right-to-die, Smoking Bills go into Effect Today
As of today, terminally ill Californians have the right — with doctors’ recommendations — to end their lives rather than live out the course of their diseases. The bill, which passed after decades of attempts (and the ongoing work of former North Coast Assemblywoman Patty Berg) was controversial, unsurprisingly. It received Governor approval last year, […]
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UPDATE: Gov. Brown Approves Right-to-Die Bill
Local doctor Michael Fratkin, who began the palliative care program ResolutionCare featured in the Journal here, emailed the following response to the news that Gov. Brown had signed the bill. Gov. Brown has signed in to law the ‘End of Life Options’ bill. That’s quite something and reflects an electrified social conversation that is transforming […]
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Right-to-die Law Goes to Gov. Brown
The California Senate and Assembly passed legislation this week that will allow terminally ill people to end their own lives with a doctor’s assistance, so long as Gov. Jerry Brown signs the bill. The bill will allow doctors to prescribe life-ending medication to people who’ve been told they have six months or less to live, […]