Editorial: Californians need ‘death with dignity’ law
By Judy Waterman
I am writing in strong support of the “End of Life Option Act” (SB-128). This legislation would allow a mentally competent, terminally ill person in the final stages of their disease to request medication from a physician to bring about a peaceful death. The availability of this option can also provide peace of mind to those who are dying and for their families.
Aid in dying is a very important issue to me and I’d like to tell you why. At the end of my mother’s life, she was in excruciating pain from cancer. Her life had become unbearable. One night, alone, she went to her garage and took her life with a gun. A very violent act, that is hard to erase from my mind. She would not have had to do it if the “end of life option” had been in place in California.
SB 128 is modeled after Oregon’s 1997 “Death with Dignity Act.” The extensive — and important — safeguards in SB-128 will ensure that the choice made by a terminally ill person to access aid in dying is informed, deliberate and voluntary.
Oregon’s experience demonstrates that this law, with safeguards to protect against any abuse, can improve end-of-life pain management and health care for all terminally ill people whether choosing to access aid in dying or not.
We should always provide quality end-of-life care for people who are suffering from an incurable and irreversible terminal illness. Yet if a person has only months, weeks or even days to live, when there is nothing else that medicine can treat and it becomes impossible to provide relief from pain, we should allow that person the option to end their pain and suffering by shortening their dying process.
I urge you to support this important bill. For more information, contact compassionandchoices.org.
—Judy Waterman is a local retired freelance artist and photographer who is now dedicating her time to the passage of California’s SB-128, the End-of-Life Option Act. She can be reached at [email protected].
Editorial: What to do after an accident to save time, money and your sanity
By Evelyn Levine Solis
The biggest risk a person can take is getting behind the wheel of a car.
According to a study by IHS Automotive, an auto industry research firm, the United States reached a record-breaking 253 million vehicles vying for space on roads across the nation this year, an increase of more than 3.7 million and levels the auto industry hasn’t seen since 2004.
With the number of automobiles approaching the population of the U.S., the odds of getting into an accident are stacked against even the most cautious drivers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approximates 16 million auto accidents occur in the U.S. each year, with only about 30 percent reported to law enforcement. The majority stem from the use of alcohol or drugs, excessive speed or distractions that range from texting, daydreaming, to primping in the rearview mirror. Within that wide range, it isn’t any big surprise that the use of cell phones accounts for one in every four accidents.
To minimize lost time, money and gain peace of mind after an automobile accident, follow this five-step protocol:
1) Stay calm and pull over to the side of the road.
In the aftermath of an accident, it is common for those involved to experience extreme anger, fear, panic or shock. But it’s times like these where staying calm benefits not only those directly involved, but also those who are indirectly affected. To ensure the safety of everyone, turn on your hazard lights, remain in the vehicle and pull over to the right shoulder if possible.
2) Call 911 and seek medical attention if necessary.
Even in minor accidents, alert police and first responders immediately. Sudden rushes of adrenaline or shock from the impact can often temporarily mask injuries. Take precautions and call for help, but only discuss apparent or potential injuries and damages with law enforcement or insurance company personnel.
3) Exchange information, but watch what you say.
In the absence of law enforcement, it is critical to obtain information regarding the other driver. In addition to name and contact numbers, record license plate numbers, model and make of cars involved, proof of vehicle registration and the name of the insurance carrier with a policy number.
Exchanging information is important, but at no point apologize, admit fault or assign blame — even in a situation where it is apparent — leave judgment to the authorities and insurance adjusters. If faced with belligerent or accusatory drivers or passengers, stay focused on productive actions. An accident can have a lasting impact on a driver’s future, as well as insurance premiums.
4) Make an accurate record.
Photographs and video can play a significant role in determining fault, damages and insurance compensations. The most opportune time for photographs is before police officers or paramedics appear, as accident scenes are often cleared by police soon after they arrive.
Before taking the first shot, activate the camera’s date and time indicator. Start with general photos, followed by scene-specific images that capture the conditions of the road, weather, obvious obstructions, traffic indicators, broken glass, skid marks on the pavement and any damage to signs, trees, guardrails or fences. Also document all cars involved in the accident — from every angle — and include images of any injuries. Evidence from photographs can serve to reconstruct the scene for law enforcement and insurance adjusters and lend strong support to a claim in the days and weeks ahead.
In the absence of a camera, take copious notes. Record everything, from the officer’s badge number to the accident case report number, as well as the accident location, date, time of day, weather, road conditions and names and contact information of any witnesses to the crash.
5) Report a claim.
In addition to wrecking a fender or a taillight, accidents have the potential to derail a person for a day, a week or several months if proper actions and protocol are ignored. Laws regarding claims differ from state to state, but California law, for example, requires a motorist to report to the DMV within 10 days any accident with property damage over $750 and where an injury or death occurs. Regardless of severity, always report an accident. Keep any relevant information and images organized in a safe place and provide them to the insurance adjuster when appropriate.
Accidents are unfortunate but common in every state across the U.S., and though it is almost a rite of passage — albeit an unpleasant one — to at some point experience the frustration and inconvenience of being involved in one, minimize the fallout by following this five-step protocol and utilize the services of law enforcement, medical and insurance professionals — and if necessary, consult a lawyer.
— Evelyn Levine Solis is a partner at Pyka Lenhardt Schnaider Zell and practices in civil litigation with an emphasis in personal injury cases involving motor vehicle accidents, trucking accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, construction accidents and wrongful death. She has successfully defended city governments, police officers, school districts and private businesses throughout the state of California. You can reach her through the firm’s website, plszlaw.com.
Letters
Renewed Starlight Bowl use
Suggestion [See “Balboa Park: Starlight continues to dim,” Vol. 16, Issue 2]: Starlight seems like an ideal place for young folk band concerts starting around 10 – 11 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Here’s why: plenty of parking after museum and theater closings; no concern for noise level or air traffic; room for dancing in the parking lots; bring in a few food trucks; designated drinking area for those over 21, or designated area for people under 21. Maybe even allow some tent pitching until 10 a.m. the next morning in the local grass areas. Keep the bathrooms open all night.
—Elizabeth Nolan via email
America’s Finest City needs more toilets
For many years, designers of Downtown San Diego have restricted, eliminated, exempted, and otherwise reduced the number of toilets in the Downtown area.
We have such things as a CVS Pharmacy at Fifth and C, for example, with no toilets, as well as a FedEx (formerly Kinko’s) in the same block without any. We seem to be the only U.S. city where using a toilet, or even finding one, is a huge problem. None of this has to do with saving water, as it all goes back many years.
With the graying (aging) of our average population, plus our emphasis locally on tourism, this is unacceptable. If water is the current issue, then we need to flush toilets with seawater, or use the no-smell, water-free toilets currently available, such as the Rockefeller Family’s Clivus Multrum design [composting] toilets.
For years, the perception has been that toilets bring in homeless, and that brings in drugs. Wrong. Homeless in the U.S. stay out of San Diego as it is an awful place for them to live. Our homeless here are from San Diego’s suburbs, as well as nearby rural places. They would prefer to live someplace else, but that is not practical, and most do not use drugs, nor would they have the money to buy drugs, anyway. If you ask them where they were born, it is another city, but that was long ago, and they have been working here and been a San Diegan for 15 or 20 years before becoming homeless.
So, not only do the tourists, the elderly, and the older tourists need them, but the business people also need more toilets Downtown. The problem has become a critical one due to many years of preventing and eliminating toilets.
And, yes, the homeless need toilets, too. Look at all the brown sidewalk stains, which are dried urine, and the cost of power-washing every day. Costly. Look at the city’s reputation and public relations regarding tourism. Important. We cannot afford to be laughed at as America’s Toilet-less City.
The homeless issue isn’t going to go away just by having no toilets. The sidewalks will be cleaner, sanitation will be better, the city will be healthier, look better, have more prestige, and invite better tourism with more toilets Downtown. Toilets aren’t cheap, but are an excellent investment in the future (and present). Let’s live up to what we say we are, America’s Finest City.
—Dr. John Kitchin, publisher, San Diego Homeless News, via email