California passes ‘right to die’ law

California has joined four other US states that allow terminally ill patients to legally end their lives under a doctor's supervision, the BBC reports.

State Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill, which was partly inspired by the case of a terminally ill California woman who moved to Oregon to end her life, into law on Monday.

According to reports, at least two dozen states introduced aid-in-dying legislation this year, but none has yet become law.

The movement gained support in California after Brittany Maynard, a cancer patient who lived in the state, moved to Oregon to legally end her life. Her family including her mother, Debbie Ziegler, spoke in support of the bill.

Religious groups had opposed the bill, saying assisted suicide was against God's will and the Catholic Church had urged Governor Brown to veto it. Advocates for people with disabilities were also worried that terminally ill patients could be pressured into choosing death.

Governor Brown, a Catholic who once studied to become a priest, had taken weeks to decide whether to sign the bill.

"In the end, I was left to reflect on what I would want in face of my own death," Governor Brown said.

"I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain. I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the option afforded by this bill."

The law stipulates that two doctors must approve the use of the life-ending drugs, two witnesses must be present when the drugs are administered and the patient also must be physically capable of taking the drugs themselves.

Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Montana already have similar laws in place.