For being such a liberal state, California has seen some speed bumps on the journey of social issues. For some cases, the road is neither gravel-rutted nor smoothly paved out: this holds incredibly true in physician-assisted suicide, or as Oregon calls it, Death with Dignity.

The U.S. watched with bated breath as 29-year-old Brittany Maynard decided to pursue her right to die Nov. 1, 2014, after being diagnosed terminally ill with a brain tumor Jan. 1, 2014. This emotional account left most wondering: Is this ethical?

California has seemed to follow suit: in Sacramento on Wednesday, California lawmakers joined Maynard’s husband, Dan Diaz, and her mother, Debbie Ziegler, to propose legislation that would allow physician-assisted suicide.

The goal of this law is to give back power to those who have lost control over their own bodies. Terminally ill patients should have the right to choose when and how they die, considering death is the outcome either way.

The issue at hand isn’t so black and white though. The California Medical Association considers assisted suicide as a violation of their “do no harm” doctrine and it is strictly forbidden in many religions.

These opposers have good reason; this act is taking the life of someone else, although it is by choice. However, it is a doctor’s duty to aid those who are suffering, and sitting by watching them die painfully is worse than giving the patient the means to die perhaps more peacefully.

Unfortunately, religion still has sway over many social issues. But religion is a personal belief, a choice, and should have no place in law.

This act does indeed have potential for abuse. Those opposing it say corrupt family members could sway the ill. Though this could be a case, this is the chance for legislature to create rules to bar such acts.

In fact, in the 20 years Oregon has had this bill in place, 752 people died of the prescribed lethal overdose although 1,173 were prescribed. This shows that even after the prescription is written, the choice still lies with the patient.

In a study released March 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, statistics show that of the 2.5 million people who died in the U.S. in 2010, one-third died in the hospital, though the same study also shows people would prefer to die in their homes.

Death is a topic no one wants to talk about, but it is one that every person will someday encounter, in one way or another. Death with Dignity is an option and personal choice for someone enduring terminal pain, and the decision should not be made by those who do not know of their suffering.