from our blog:

living with dying

read more from our blog


House of Lords Ruling in Britain


House of Lords Ruling in Britain

In Britain, the House of Lords ruled that a patient’s husband would not be prosecuted if he traveled with her to a Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to hasten her death. Debbie Purdy, who has primary progressive multiple sclerosis, argued that it would violate her human rights to not know if her husband would be prosecuted. This ruling has implications as an average of two individuals per month travel from England to Dignitas for a hastened death. As a result of the ruling, the British director of public prosecutions will issue a guidance to clarify the conditions under which prosecutions will occur. Read more about the decision here.

Posted on September 1, 2009.

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.

donate today

Stay Connected

Sign up for the latest news and information about Death with Dignity.

Additional ways to stay in touch:

TwitterFacebookRSS

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.

Learn more about our family of organizations.

Political Action Fund

Capitol BuildingThe 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

family timeThe 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.

Find resources for patients and families.

Research Center

person studyingWe 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.

Dive into the archives of the National Center.