Death With Dignity, a decade later
By None, Willamette Week, March 19, 2008
Barbara Coombs Lee, president of Compassion and Choices, said she was gratified to see that terminally ill patients used the law more in 2007 than in 2006. The number of Oregon patients that had lethal medication prescribed in 2007 was 85 compared with 65 in 2006, according to the report from OR-DHS. Of the 85 patients, only 46 actually took the medication, 26 died from the underlying disease, and 13 were alive at the end of the year.
Supporters of the DWDA, such as Compassion & Choices, point to both the rise in patients asking for lethal medication from their physicians and the figures of only half that take it as a success of the law.
"Many people find comfort in the choice," Coombs Lee said. "Very few people exercise that choice." Adding that the law provides the "promise of peace and hope of comfort" to patients.
State data also showed that in 2007 patients who died were younger (median age of 65 years) than previous years (median age 70 years). All of the patients had some form of medical insurance, with 65 % using private insurance and 35% using Medicare or Medicaid.
While opponents of assisted suicide—or as supporters would prefer it called, aid in dying—have continually raised the specter of euthanasia factories, the 10-year report shows that this has not been the case in Oregon.
Sylvia Campbell, wife of former Tom McCall speechwriter Gene Maudlin, spoke at the meeting for her husband, who is terminally ill and is planning to use the law. "Gene wants to leave the planet with dignity," said Campbell, and they "both hope that every person can make these kind of choices soon."
Currently, Oregon is the only state in the country with an assisted suicide law. Washington state voters will have their say in November on the issue, and Californians have turned it down on two separate occasions.
Share on StumbleUpon
Defend dignity. Take action.
You are the key to ensuring well-crafted Death with Dignity laws for all Americans. With your financial and volunteer help, the Death with Dignity National Center, a 501(c)(3), non-partisan, non-profit organization, has been the leading advocate in the death with dignity movement. Member contributions helped us pass a new Death with Dignity law in Washington, defend the Oregon law, and provide education and outreach programs for the vitality of the death with dignity movement.
Make a Donation
Your donation helps us continue to advocate for the right of the terminally ill to die with dignity.
Stay Connected
Sign up for the latest news and information about Death with Dignity.
Additional ways to stay in touch: |  |  |  |
About Death with Dignity
The greatest human freedom is to live, and die, according to one's own desires and beliefs. From advance directives to physician-assisted dying, death with dignity is a movement to provide options for the dying to control their own end-of-life care.
Death with Dignity National Center is the leader in this movement, successfully establishing, advancing and defending the landmark Oregon and Washington Death with Dignity Acts.
Political Action Fund
The Death with Dignity National Center partners with the Oregon Death with Dignity Political Action Fund to conduct lobbying and political activities in order to achieve the enactment of Death with Dignity laws in other states.
Learn more about the Oregon Death with Dignity Political Action Fund.
Patients & Families
The Death with Dignity National Center was formed out of a profound commitment to the idea that personal end-of-life decisions should be made solely between a patient and a physician. We are pleased to provide you with support and information as you face the difficult challenges ahead.
Research Center
We have compiled a comprehensive collection of legal briefs, journal articles, and newspaper clippings. We invite you to explore the wide array of information we have collected throughout our history.
© 2012 Death with Dignity National Center. Powered by Mandate Media.
We respect your privacy. Please see our Privacy Policy and Statement of Ethics for more information.
