Largely Latino California is the first minority-majority state to allow the terminally ill to hasten their deaths—the biggest test yet of the practice that has raised concerns in communities of color.
African-American and Latino leaders worry that poor people with serious illnesses could be pressured to take the lethal drugs as a cheaper option to long-term care.
The law goes into effect Thursday in California, which is far more diverse than the four other states where the option is available — Washington, Vermont, Montana and Oregon.
Oregon officials say most of those who have decided to take life-ending drugs in the state have been white, over 65 and well-educated. Oregon pioneered the law in 1997.
