CA Set to Become 6th State to Legalize Euthanasia

The California state Assembly approved a bill Tuesday that would allow terminally ill patients to legally end their lives.

The right-to-die legislation now goes to the state Senate, where it's expected to pass.

This is the second time this year that California lawmakers have tried to pass legislation that would let doctor's prescribe life-ending drugs.

The push for the legislation started nearly a year ago when Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old California woman with terminal brain cancer, moved to Oregon, a state with laws allowing euthanasia. She took her own life last November.

Earlier efforts to pass right-to-die legislation in California stalled because of religious opposition.

At least two dozen states have introduced assisted suicide bills this year. None of them have passed.

So far, only five states - Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington -- allow terminally ill patients to end their lives.