"Doctors are not always straightforward about the true prognosis and offer false hope," wrote Barbara Coombs Lee, president of Compassion and Choices, in a recent commentary on Assembly member Patty Berg's end-of-life information bill.

The medical profession is trained with the conviction to heal and save lives. It's almost like "breaking the rules" when the patient becomes terminal and unable to respond to available treatments. I have met and witnessed an oncology doctor emotionally overwhelmed at having to find the words to say, "The tumor started to grow back, and I feel ..." His/her life-saving recommendations "have failed," but not really. Efforts to heal is now over.

I believe to give the patient and the family information they want and need helps define what is necessary to prepare for the final moments of life and the continuing process of living IN grieving for family and friends. Hospice is highly recommended, however, the gray area leading to that decision can be filled by this act (AB 2747). Note: Some people may think hospice is "giving up." It is not. Hospice lays down a foundation of the reality of the dying process wrapped with compassion for the parties involved.

As far as Sen. Sam Aanestad saying, “ ... a humane way to deal with people who are dying." Do we deal with a woman giving birth? The lifecycle starts with birth and continues THROUGH death. This statement may not be understood by some people. A patient deserves the dignity of the living-through-dying process as well as the family, who must survive and must expect to be treated the same way when it's their turn to face this cycle of life. Dignity is the key word.

Patricia An Schmidt lives in Lakeport.

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