California legal term
terminally ill in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “terminally ill” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “terminally ill” mean in California criminal law?
“terminally ill” means a patient who meets all of the following conditions: (1) In the reasonable medical judgment of the prescribing physician, the patient has been determined to be suffering from an illness that is incurable and irreversible. (Cal. Health & Safety Code § 11159.2)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.