Hemlock Society of San Diego

It all started in Santa Monica in 1980. Derek Humphry, remembering a loved one who suffered a painful death, decided to found the Hemlock Society. Soon people heard about his group and joined. As interest grew, Dr. Faye Girsh discussed with him the establishing of groups in other communities, got his approval, and in 1987 started our Hemlock Society of San Diego.

The next year in 1988 our fledgling group tried to get our initiative, the Humane and Dignified Death Act, on the California ballot. We didn't succeed, but for us it was a time of learning.

Four years passed before we tried again. In 1992, together with other California groups, we participated in a state-wide grassroots campaign to pass the Death-with-Dignity Act.

Again, we organized volunteers, accepted donations, stood in front of markets to collect signatures, made signs and banners, and contacted every friend, group, and organization who might support us.

Of the five million votes cast, 47% were for the Death-with-Dignity Act, not enough to pass it, but enough to let us know that there were more than two million voters in California who agreed with Hemlock members on right-to-die-with-dignity issues.

Fifteen have passed since then. Gradually, as we helped, the philosophy Derek Humphry espoused in Santa Monica in 1980 spread from state to state and has grown to be part of an international right-to-die movement.

Ronald Sokol, an attorney licensed to practice both in the U.S. and France, wrote the following in the March 22, 2007 issue of the International Herald Tribune:

"We firmly believe that within the next century, perhaps much sooner, the right to choose to die with dignity will be as widely recognized as the right to free speech or to exercise one's religion."