UC San Diego Campus Notice
OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR
March 29, 2021
ALL ACADEMICS AND STAFF AT UC SAN DIEGO (Including UC San Diego Health)

For Systemwide Review - Presidential Policy:  UC Health Participation in Activities under the End of Life Option Act

The University of California Office of the President invites comments on a proposed Presidential Policy UC Health Participation in Activities under the End of Life Option Act. The policy is proposed to be revised and includes the following key issues:
  • The issuance of the Interim Presidential Policy: UC Health Participation in Activities under the End of Life Option Act in 2016, coincided with the issuance of the End of Life Option Act (California Health and Safety Code §443, et seq., referred to in this policy as the “Option Act”) which allows terminally ill adult patients with the mental capacity to make medical decisions to request to be prescribed and self-administer an aid-in-dying drug to end their life if specific conditions are met.
  • The Option Act establishes specific procedures and requirements to be followed by patients and health care providers who choose to assist them. It also provides that, upon proper notice, a health care provider may “opt out”.
  • UC Health has chosen not to opt out but acknowledges the rights of individual employees to refrain from participating in activities authorized under the Option Act.
  • It is the policy of the University of California to extend to its patients the choices made available through the Option Act and to comply with its terms. The University, however, neither requires nor encourages any individual provider to participate. Participation in activities authorized under the Act is strictly voluntary.
This policy applies to all persons at all UC San Diego locations.

Under the Regents’ Policy, campuses were directed to issue implementing rules for certain policy requirements. This proposed policy constitutes the implementing rules for the San Diego campus and is available for viewing here.

This is a formal review of the proposed Implementing Rules. If you have comments for submission in response to the policy review, please provide your written comments to Paula Johnson in Policy and Records Administration at pjjohnson@ucsd.edu no later than May 24, 2021.
Pradeep K. Khosla
Chancellor
University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093