MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2015 - FEBRUARY 8, 2015
riversideindependent.com
Californians Can Soon Vote on Death with Dignity by nick kipley Having once failed in the polls, voters in the State of California will soon be able to decide again whether or not a patient of a terminal disease can electively end his or her own life under new, “Death With Dignity,” legislature. The measure, which has seen various revisions from the time it has been up for debate in 1992, 2005, and 2007, is gaining in support after 29-year-old Brittany Maynard, a California resident, moved to Portland in order to electively end her life, which she succeeded in doing on the 1st of November, last year. Oregon, Washington and Vermont have voted into their state legislation the right for a patient of an end-stage terminal disease to take a deliberate overdose of a heavy sedativehypnotic—typically a mixture of barbiturates—slip into a coma and die peacefully. Maynard had been diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer whose prognosis indicated irreversible physical and mental
- File photo by Terry Miller
scarring if she were to undergo even the most successful treatment. Even worse, it was feared that, after months of these personality-altering treatments, the radioactive waves would fire through her skull and kill her. “I considered passing away
in hospice care at my San Francisco Bay-area home. But even with palliative medication, I could develop potentially morphine-resistant pain and suffer personality changes and verPlease see page 2
Almost Three Years After Popular Student’s Killing, Police Investigation Still Active On February 23, 2012, a well-liked Riverside student was shot by an unidentified suspect lust outside his home in Riverside’s eastside community. Lareanz Simmons, a Poly High School freshman who was just 14 years old, died as a result of his injuries. Lareanz had no gang affiliation and was a popular, caring kid who gave back to
his community through his work with the Junior ROTC program. The Riverside Police Department’s Homicide Unit is currently investigating new leads recently received in the case and will continue to pursue the new developments that have come to the attention of the handling detectives. All new leads are given priority with the investigation.
The Riverside Police Department is asking for the continued assistance from the public and wants to remind anyone with information to please contact Riverside Police Detective Tillett at 951-353-7105, Detective Medici at 951-353-7104 or if you wish to remain anonymous, contact We Tip at 1(800)78-CRIME or 1(800) 782-7463.
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Latino Network Awards Outstanding Women On March 6, 2015 the Latino Network, also known as “La Net,” will host their 18th Annual Celebración de la Mujer Awards, or Celebration of Women Awards Luncheon. The awards recognize the community contributions and achievements of Latina women in the Inland area. The Riverside Latino Network is looking for nominations for its annual awards that are due February 11, 2015. Each March, the event recognizes “outstanding women who have demonstrated a spirit of commitment to their communities,” said the Latino Network website. The Latino Network prides itself on being a place where issues that affect and impact the Latino community in Riverside can be discussed and dealt with. California and the surrounding areas provide a vehicle for the dissemination of information and the sharing of resources. Honorees from 2014 included Hispanic Inland Empire Chamber of Commerce President, Linda Gonzalez. Linda Gonzalez was a 52-year-old Bloomington resident when she received the honor. Gonzalez is president of MAS Auto and Truck Electric of the Inland Empire and serves on the board of directors of the West Valley Water District, reported the The Press Enterprise. “It’s our time,” Gonzalez told the Enterprise last March. “Finally, people are acknowledging our community and our culture.” Please see page 4
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Death With Dignity Continued from page 1
bal, cognitive and motor loss of virtually any kind,” she said in a final statement released to CNN on the 2nd of November. “Because the rest of my body is young and healthy, I am likely to physically hang on for a long time even though cancer is eating my mind. I probably would have suffered in hospice care for weeks or even months. And my family would have had to watch that,” she added. Oregon’s forms “To Request To End My Life In A Humane and Dignified Manner” read: “I am suffering from _________________ , which my attending/prescribing physician has determined is a terminal disease and which has been medically confirmed by a consulting physician . . . I have been fully informed of: my diagnosis; prognosis; the nature of medication to be prescribed and potential associated risks; the expected result; and fea-
sible alternatives, including comfort care, hospice care, and pain control.” As a seeming counterpoint to the argument that this law might result in physicians or cruel family members, “putting down,” elderly patients unable to pay for treatment, Oregon paperwork has been designed to be a lengthy, complex, bureaucratic procedure. The form requests two separate witnesses who are not in any way related to the patient, that they are the patient’s physician, and that they will not befit monetarily from the patient once they are deceased. These two witnesses must indicate that the patient is in sound mind, that they know the patient personally, and that they aren’t employees at a health care center where the patient is receiving treatment. The Doctor’s consultation form for this procedure is much
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longer, requires two separate visits and for the patient to receive the proverbial “go ahead” from a psychologist. Then, the acquisition of the drugs from the pharmacy requires a couple of days. The whole process requires of the patient, “to be logical to the bitter end.” And, probably for this reason, of the patients who have filled out the prescription to end their life in Oregon, only about two thirds have gone through with it. Julie Sosa, a Registered Nurse and the Clinical Supervisor at Five Star Home Hospice in Pasadena, said that patients have voiced their wish to die because of unbearable pain. Because the majority of these patients are under the influence of mind-altering medication, they would not fall under the “Death With Dignity” legislation. However, Sosa has “always supported this” proposed
law for California. At the Hospice, the nurse also cares for many Alzheimer patients, who “lose the ability to remember where [they] are, forget how to talk, how to walk, how to go to the bathroom . . . [and finally] how to chew and swallow food.” Those are not eligible under Oregon’s law to electively end their own lives; however, for them, Sosa claims that the Hospice is the best alternative to intensive care. The Hospice’s “job is to make them comfortable so they can prepare to die.” Some would see this as a total loss of dignity, dying choking on your food. Some would see wasting away in hospice care in your early thirties (Maynard) as a loss of all dignity. But what it comes down to, both in a philosophical sense and in a medical-terminology sense, is how comfortable you want to feel in the end.
State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Updated Parent Service Hours Guidelines State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced updated guidance on parent service hours requirements in schools. “We encourage parents to volunteer at their schools, but we want to make it very clear that no school can require parents to volunteer in order for a student to enroll in school or participate in an educational activity,” said Torlakson. This comes after recent questions as to whether school districts or schools, including charter schools, can require parents to do work as a condition of allowing their child to enroll or otherwise receive an
educational benefit or service at school. Current law clearly states that a school district or school, including charter schools, shall not offer or remove course credit or privileges related to educational activities based on whether or not the school receives money or donations of goods or services from a pupil or a pupil’s parents or guardians. For additional information on current laws addressing this specific topic please view the California Department of Education’s Fiscal Management Advisory 15-01.
FEBRUARY 2, 2015 - FEBRUARY 8, 2015 | 3
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Nineteen High School Teams Set for 32nd Annual Riverside County Academic Decathlon Competition County-wide competition stretches over two weekends with theme of New Alternatives in Energy: Ingenuity and Innovation Sponsored by the Riverside County Office of Education, the annual Academic Decathlon competition is currently taking place at Heritage High School (26001 Briggs Road, Romoland, CA 92585). It started last Saturday, and will go on until February 7. In 2014, Hemet High School emerged victorious at the Riverside County Academic Decathlon Competition by dethroning 5-time consecutive champion, West Valley High School. At the 2014 California Academic Decathlon competition in March 2014, Hemet High School represented Riverside County along with two wild card teams who were invited to participate based on their regional round scores. At the statewide competition, Elsinore High School placed 29th overall with West Valley High School finishing 37th and Hemet High School placing 40th. The initial day of the 2015 competition featured essay writing, speeches, and interviews. On February 7, the teams will compete via written tests and the popular Super Quiz. The Super Quiz is the only event open to the public (besides the Awards Ceremony) and begins at 2:00 p.m. in the Heritage High School gymnasium. The Awards Ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. in the Heritage High School Theater—including an announcement of the team that will represent Riverside County at the California Academic Decathlon to be held in Sacramento on March 19-22, 2015. The 19 teams participating
from Riverside County high schools include: Beaumont High School, Corona High School (2 teams), Elsinore High School, Great Oak High School, Hemet High School, Heritage High School, La Sierra High School, Moreno Valley High School, (John W.) North High School, Palm Desert High School, Palm Springs
High School, Rancho Verde High School, (Eleanor) Roosevelt High School, Shadow Hills High School, Tahquitz High School, Temecula Preparatory School, Valley View High School, West Valley High School. For additional information, visit www.rcoe.us and click on the “Events” tab.
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Assemblyman Mike Gatto Introduces DNA Privacy Bill A government repository of the DNA of all children born? Actually, millions of newborns each year provide a blood sample to the state, to be screened for congenital disorders. But what happens to it next is alarming. The blood (and DNA) samples are deposited into a biobank where they can be used by outside researchers (who pay), for tests that few parents know about or consent to. These samples contain the most sensitive personal information: our children’s genetic information. And the state is storing that information and selling it to outside entities. Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Glendale) introduced legislation today to protect the privacy of California’s citizens. The bill, AB 170, would strengthen the notice requirements when dried blood spot (DBS) samples are taken from newborns to screen for diseases. Gatto’s proposal would re-
quire that parents be provided information regarding the retention of DBS samples, including the parents’ right to request the destruction of their child’s DBS. The bill would further permit children to request the destruction of their DBS when they reach adulthood. “Whenever data is stored, data can fall into the wrong hands. Imagine the discrimination a person might face if their HIV status, or genetic predisposition to a mental disorder were revealed to the public,” said Gatto. “Parents should have the right to protect their children and people should have the right to control how their personal medical records are used once they reach adulthood.” All 50 states operate newborn screening programs to screen for certain metabolic, endocrine, or hemoglobin disorders, as well as genetic disorders including cystic fibrosis,
phenylketonuria, and severe combined immunodeficiency. California, which screens over 500,000 newborns each year, provides one of the largest population-based screening programs in the world. Early detection and treatment of these disorders can prevent serious medical problems such as intellectual disabilities and lifethreatening diseases. The test is administered by taking a few drops of blood from the baby’s heel and placing the blood spots on special filter paper that is then sent to a state-approved lab for testing. California is one of just four states where the DBS becomes the property of the state -- and therefore a de facto, government-owned-and-operated DNA repository. Furthermore, the California Department of Public Health loans DBS samples to researchers, for a fee. These retention and loan practices have raised concerns that
a person’s personal medical information, contained in their DBS, could become public. Current laws do not mandate that parents to be provided information regarding the retention of DBS, nor their right to request the destruction of their child’s DBS. It also does not allow for the person whose blood was taken as a newborn to request destruction of their sample once they reach adulthood. “Newborn screening is an incredible tool that has saved millions of newborns. But during an era of omnipresent intrusion in our lives, policymakers must take steps to safeguard our personal information, especially medical records, which are particularly personal,” said Assemblyman Gatto. “AB 170 will ensure that parents can protect their children’s privacy and can destroy infant-screening records after they have served their purpose.”
“La Net” Continued from page 1
Another past winner from the past year was then 23-yearold Jacqueline Meza, from Moreno Valley. At the time, Meza was enrolled at UC Riverside as a sociology major, added the paper. She was nominated because she helped organize voter registration drives and
citizenship workshops to increase voter participation. Meza had also volunteered as a tutor and mentored elementary students through an after-school program, said the Enterprise. “Everything I do, I do it because it’s what I believe in,” Meza told the paper, “not to re-
ceive anything in return.” Maria Jimenez from Fontana was another honoree. Jimenez was a “translation services supervisor for the Riverside County Office of Education,” reported the paper. Through her work, she educated immigrants’ parents with limited English skills so that they could better participate in the education of their children. “We have families that are from very different backgrounds, with many needs,” Jimenez told the Enterprise in an interview. “Through the services we provide, we are empowering them.” The Network is looking for nominations in one of these categories: •Culture & Tradition - History of promoting Latino culture in community programs and events. •Education -Demonstrated leadership in the Latino community promoting education. •Senior - Recognition of an
elder contributing to development of the social, political, or economic fabric of the Latino community. •Business - Participation in the Latino community promoting business and/or participation in Latino community events. •Youth - Students dedicated towards improving and empowering the Latino community. •Health - Participation in the Latino community promoting health/mental health wellness and Recovery. •Public Safety - Demonstrated leadership promoting safety of citizens and business via any of the following: •Public Education, volunteer programs, crime or fire prevention, and mentorship To nominate a Latina leader working in the Inland Empire, the public may find forms and more information at www.riversidelatinonetwork.org.