California Governor Jerry Brown had a tough decision to make. He could either allow people who are suffering from painful terminal illnesses to choose to end their life in hospice, or respect his religious upbringing and forbid the practice in the state he currently manages. According to a report from the LA Times, the embattled governor chose to legalize assisted suicide in the state of California after signing a bill last Monday.

The bill would allow physicians to prescribe and administer lethal doses of certain medications that would hasten the deaths of terminally ill patients in the state of California. The bill faced considerable opposition from a number of parties, including the Catholic Church.

Brown said that considering what he would do in that situation played a large role in his final decision. He reasoned that if he were dying in excruciating and relentless pain, he would want to have the option for relief by assisted suicide.

The law follows the lead of Oregon, who legalized assisted suicide in 1997. Last year, 105 people took their own lives with the help of a doctor in the state.

The law will go into effect 90 days after the legislature closes its special healthcare session, which may continue until next November at the latest.

Assisted suicide has undoubtedly offered relief to people with no other way out of their painful existences. While it still faces harsh criticism from opponents, Brown feels confident that his decision to sign the bill into law will provide relief for people in pain.