The Hemlock Society of San Diego is a 39-year-old 501 (c)(3), nonprofit educational organization. We believe that people should be able to die consistent with their own beliefs and values and with proper, current information. Membership is open to all adults, not just San Diegans.
Private donations and membership fees, which are tax deductible, fund our charitable work. Legacy gifts are welcome and should be directed to the Hemlock Society of San Diego, Inc. Tax ID #: 33-0467982.
The Mission of the Hemlock Society of San Diego
Our mission is to provide the most recent, factual education about all end of life choices. This education empowers informed decisions in planning the final chapter of life. We are dedicated to Choice, Dignity and Control at the end of life.
What We Do
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- Provide education about end of life choices with free public meetings six times a year. We have heard from Derek Humphry, author of Final Exit; from Neal Nicol, biographer of Jack Kevorkian; from Dick Mac Donald MD, Medical Advisor, Final Exit Network and many more. Most of these programs are available to the public at no charge via Zoom. Past Hemlock programs can be viewed here .
- Right to Die Film Series. Six times per year (on even-numbered months) we show a free film at a local library.
- Provide individual counseling relating to the end-of-life in a professional, confidential, and compassionate manner at no cost via email or phone.
- Support options for a humane, self-determined death by contributing to campaigns for law reform, legal defense, and the World Federation of Right to Die Societies.
- Publish a newsletter with information about worldwide right-to-die developments six times a year.
- Bring like-minded people together for small group workshops and to discuss end-of-life choices.
- Provide resource information such as international books, pamphlets, DVDs.
- Provide speakers on end of life choices to community organizations.
We are proud members of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies.
What We Believe
LIBERTY AND DEATH
A Manifesto Concerning an Individual’s Right to Choose to Die
By Derek Humphry, founder of the Hemlock Society
In a spirit of compassion for all, this manifesto proclaims that every competent adult has the incontestable right to humankind’s ultimate civil and personal liberty — the right to die in a manner and at a time of their own choosing.
Suicide no longer being a crime, it is unacceptable to prosecute well-meaning people for assisting a suicide.
Medically hastened death by request should be made lawful as it is now in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the American states of California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Montana (each has different rules).
Views on the dying process contrary to those expressed in this manifesto are respected, but must not trump the autonomy of the dying person’s own decisions.