The Details:

The report, analyzed by Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, was released in July, and showed an 11% jump in doctor-assisted deaths. However, Schadenberg believes the increase is higher.

"Based on the reporting problems in the 2024 report, I predicted, last year, that there were likely 1100 assisted suicide deaths in 2024, but the real number is worse (1113) and in fact there were likely many more," wrote Schadenberg.

The reporting "problems" have been consistent.

In 2023, California reported 884 assisted suicide deaths, but the 2024 report with updated 2023 data showed 969 assisted deaths in 2023 — 85 more than initially reported. That's a nine percent (9%) difference. But then, the 2025 report showed even more deaths — a total of 983 in 2023 — 99 more than originally reported.

"That means two years after publishing the 2023 report the California Department of Health found 14 more 2023 assisted suicide deaths or 99 more deaths since 2023," wrote Schadenberg.

The data from 2022 was equally skewed. If that trend continued into 2025 reporting, then the rise in assisted suicide deaths is higher than California is letting on.

What's more is that the 2025 report shows there were 1,839 assisted suicide prescriptions written but that there were 1,159 persons who died from the prescriptions, 76 who died from prescriptions written prior to 2025, 300 who died naturally, and 380 who were given the prescriptions but their status is unknown.

"The California Department of Health has no idea if these 380 people died, and if they died did they die by assisted suicide but no assisted suicide report was submitted," said Schadenberg.

Why It Matters:

The fact that California continuously reports incorrect data on assisted suicide, he explained, means that the state can report an 11% increase in assisted suicide deaths when there was likely a 21% increase.

"The media will suggest that there was only an 11% increase in assisted suicide deaths in California with 1113 in 2024 and 1235 in 2025.  But based on the reporting problems there were likely at least 1350 assisted suicide deaths in 2025 which is greater than a 21% increase," he explained.

"Based on the reporting problems in the 2024 report, I predicted, last year, that there were likely 1100 assisted suicide deaths in 2024, but the real number is worse (1113) and in fact there were likely many more," wrote Schadenberg.

The reporting "problems" have been consistent.

In 2023, California reported 884 assisted suicide deaths, but the 2024 report with updated 2023 data showed 969 assisted deaths in 2023 — 85 more than initially reported. That's a nine percent (9%) difference. But then, the 2025 report showed even more deaths — a total of 983 in 2023 — 99 more than originally reported.

"That means two years after publishing the 2023 report the California Department of Health found 14 more 2023 assisted suicide deaths or 99 more deaths since 2023," wrote Schadenberg.

The data from 2022 was equally skewed. If that trend continued into 2025 reporting, then the rise in assisted suicide deaths is higher than California is letting on.

What's more is that the 2025 report shows there were 1,839 assisted suicide prescriptions written but that there were 1,159 persons who died from the prescriptions, 76 who died from prescriptions written prior to 2025, 300 who died naturally, and 380 who were given the prescriptions but their status is unknown.

"The California Department of Health has no idea if these 380 people died, and if they died did they die by assisted suicide but no assisted suicide report was submitted," said Schadenberg.

Why It Matters:

The fact that California continuously reports incorrect data on assisted suicide, he explained, means that the state can report an 11% increase in assisted suicide deaths when there was likely a 21% increase.

"The media will suggest that there was only an 11% increase in assisted suicide deaths in California with 1113 in 2024 and 1235 in 2025.  But based on the reporting problems there were likely at least 1350 assisted suicide deaths in 2025 which is greater than a 21% increase," he explained.