California's End of Life Act

Emanate Health facilities will not participate in the End Of Life Option Act.

The passage of AB X2-15, the California State End of Life Option Act, has raised many questions for physicians, pharmacists, other health care providers and hospitals statewide.

After thoughtful discussions with both medical staffs, the Board of Directors, employees and patients, Emanate Health has chosen for its facilities, including Emanate Health Foothill Presbyterian Hospital, Emanate Health Inter-Community Hospital and Emanate Health Queen of the Valley Hospital campuses, Emanate Health Home Care and its outpatient settings, to not participate in the California State End of Life Option Act. This means that Emanate's employees and health care providers, including the physicians on our various medical staffs, will not assist a patient in ending his/her life while on premises owned or under the management or direct control of Emanate Health while acting within the course and scope of their employment or contract with Emanate Health.

Emanate Health will continue to provide compassionate, high quality care to all our patients. Any person wishing to receive life-ending medication while a patient in our hospitals will be assisted with a transfer to another facility of the patient's choice. The transfer will assure continuity of care.

Emanate Health believes its providers have an obligation to openly discuss the patient's concerns, unmet needs, feelings, and desires about the dying process. Providers should seek to learn the meaning behind the patient's questions and help the patient understand the range of available options, including but not limited to comfort care, hospice care, and pain control. Ultimately, our goal is to help patients make informed decisions about end-of-life care.