Silver Lake Man With Terminal Illness Plans To Legally End Life In 6 Weeks

SILVER LAKE (CBSLA.com) — A Silver Lake man suffering from terminal cancer plans to take his own life in a few weeks, and he has the support of a new California law.

Bob Stone will be among one of the first to take his own life. He already has the prescribed deadly cocktail, and says it's just a matter of time.

"It's death with dignity. It's a peaceful death," said the 69-year-old man. "It's about choice, that's all it is. It's giving people options and choices. And what's wrong with that?"

Stone is dying of bone marrow cancer. He was diagnosed 15 months ago and was given a year, maybe two, to live.

But instead of worrying about the slow, painful end, Stone is able to take his own life legally under the new California law.

"For me it's an existential question about how I live my life and how I die and how I have the right to make those decisions," he said.

Stone is at peace with his decision and his family is on board too, but groups like the California Pro-Life Council are opposed to the law, calling it a violation of medical ethics.

On Stone's case, a spokesman said this:

"I hope (Stone) has had a psychological intervention, as there is none required under California law and suicidal depression is not uncommon when given terminal diagnoses."

"I'm quite sane. I know what I'm doing," he said.

He says he is focused on the important things.

"It's funny. Getting a dire diagnosis may seem like a terrible thing, but really it's given me some time to reflect on my life and focus on the things that are important," he said.

Stone's bucket list includes more music, a little travel and some time with family and friends. He also wants to make sure his garage is cleaned out.