from our blog: living with dying |
11th Year Report Shows Law Continues to be Safe
This past spring, the Death with Dignity Act was widely recognized and lauded for being a safe, compassionate law providing comfort and peace of mind to terminally ill adults. The Oregon Department of Human Services’ (DHS)11th annual report detailing usage of the Oregon Death with Dignity Act demonstrates that this praise is well deserved.
This year’s statistics are largely in keeping with the data collected over the past 10 years. 88 people received ODWDA prescriptions in 2008, and 60 people died under the terms of the Act. The typical participant was 72, college educated, and suffering from cancer. Over the years, participants have listed quality-of-life issues as their main reasons for using the Act, and this year was no different. The top concerns included an inability to participate in activities that made life enjoyable, loss of autonomy, and loss of dignity.
There were some categories in which the statistics made a more noticeable shift. In 2008, 98% of patients were enrolled in hospice care, which is a significant increase from previous years when hospice enrollment was at 86%. In addition, in 2008 more patients had private health insurance (88%) than in previous years (63%).
The report also indicates that the dire predictions of Death with Dignity opponents have not materialized. This year, as in all previous years of the Act’s usage, there was not a single report of coercion, abuse, or misuse of the law. For the 11th year in a row, Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act has proven to be a safe and effective law. Read DHS’ report and table.
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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.
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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.
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