Suicide and End of Life Options

Considerations/Issues

• Societal Stigma Associated with Suicide

• Suicide often carries significant societal stigma, affecting both the individual and their loved ones.

• Families and friends may feel guilt and shame after a suicide, questioning what they could have done to prevent it.

• Determination of suicide can have significant financial repercussions

Investigative Focus in Suicide Cases

• Investigators consider key questions to determine if a death is a suicide, accident, or homicide:

  • Intent to end life: Was there clear intention behind the actions taken?

    • Must show intent

      • Notes found

      • Precautions to avoid rescue

      • The decedent knew the lethality of actions

      • Took actions to end life vs accident

  • Decedent’s background is critical in investigations.

    • Key areas include:

      • Recent behavior changes that may indicate emotional distress.

• History of suicidal ideations or previous attempts.

• Current life challenges, e.g., employment status, financial issues, health problems, and personal or domestic troubles.

End of Life Option Act (EOLA) in California

• Any adult with the capacity to make medical decisions and with a terminal disease.

• The EOLA allows adults with terminal illnesses to request aid-in-dying medication under specific conditions:

  • Physician has diagnosed an incurable terminal disease, medically confirmed, that will result in death within 6 months

  • Must be a resident of California and able to establish residency.

  • Must voluntarily request and have the physical and mental ability to self-administer the aid-in-dying drug.

EOLA and Insurance Considerations

• The act specfically provides that death resulting from the self-administration of aid-in-dying drugs is not classified as suicide under Health and Safety Code 443.13(b).

• Death from this act has the same impact on life, health, and annuity policy as a natural death.

  • This classification ensures that such deaths are treated similarly to natural deaths concerning health and insurance coverage, preventing discrimination against beneficiaries.

• Prohibits health and insurance coverage from being exempted on the basis of death brought on by this act.