Agency Details:

Compassion & Choices of Northern California seeks to educate terminally-ill individuals and their families about their rights to a dignified, humane, and peaceful death. We provide services appropriate to a diverse and multicultural community with a focus on comfort care and pain management. Additionally, we strive to increase awareness of, and access to, the full range of end-of-life choices by educating the public at large and advocating for change to existing laws.

Description:

• To counsel and help terminally-ill patients and their families resolve end-of-life issues;
• To educate the public at-large about end-of-life responsibilities and choices (e.g., the importance of advance directives, and
• To advocate for change to existing legislation about end-of-life choice. Compassion and Choices was very involved in the recent California legislation regarding death with dignity.



History:
In 1993, at the peak of the AIDS epidemic, a small group of dedicated individuals who had seen too many violent, lonely, and agonized deaths vowed to make a difference. Staying within the law, they provided information and emotional support to mentally competent, terminally-ill individuals who sought a peaceful, humane death. We distinguish ourselves from other “right-to-die” advocacy groups by providing counseling, and by working with the healthcare community for changes in medical care for the terminally ill. Yet, unlike every other mainstream organization, we insist that meaningful reform must include legalization of assisted dying and increased pain management.



Contact people:


Christina Goodwin, Office Manager, (phone), (email) Jordan Posamentier, Board President, (email) Stewart Florsheim, Board President, (email)


Main office number: (866) 825-8967
Office fax number: (866) 825-8967

Address:


3701 Sacramento Street #439 San Francisco, CA 94118 (See a map)


Web Site: http://www.compassionandchoicesnca.org

Directions:

This is a PO Box address only.

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	No others
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	18
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	No

Last updated on October 7, 2009