from our blog: living with dying |
A Careful Reading of Reports Indicates Oregon & Washington Laws are Safe & Rarely Used
One year ago, the Washington Death with Dignity Act went into effect. Since then the Washington Department of Health (DOH), has collected and compiled data on the use of the law. The agency released its first report on March 4, 2010. According to DOH, 36 terminally ill patients used the law to hasten their death, 63 people received prescriptions, and 53 physicians participated in 2009.
Similarly, the state of Oregon issued its 2009 Report on March 4th. Data from the report is included in the graph to the right. The data indicate that the Death with Dignity policy in both states is safe, effective, and rarely used.
Links to these reports are below.
Oregon 2009 Report
Oregon 2009 Report Table
To see Oregon State reports from previous years, please click here.
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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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