About Us

Death with Dignity National Center is a 501(c)3, non-partisan, non-profit organization that has led the legal defense and education of the Oregon Death with Dignity Law for nearly 20 years. The Death with Dignity Political Action Fund is a distinct and separate 501(c)4 entity responsible for the political defense of the Oregon law and the promotion of death with dignity initiatives in other states. Our board of directors is comprised of some of the death with dignity movement's most esteemed medical, legal and scholarly experts.

With your help, Death with Dignity National Center:

  • Defends Dignity
    We achieve this through our extensive and costly legal defense of the Oregon law, as well as coalition building. Our non-profit and political-action arm provide the flexibility to rapidly respond to both legal and political challenges.
  • Mobilizes Dignity
    We achieve this through various education and outreach means. On an ongoing process we identify and support states actively seeking to pass death with dignity laws similar to Oregon's. Our website is a trusted resource for legal, medical and scholarly research. Our Dignity Report donor newsletter provides more than 10,000 semi-annual readers with substantive articles, updates and interviews.
  • Preserves Dignity
    We achieve this by developing and nurturing diverse financial resources with one goal in mind: ensure financial vitality and its position as the leader of the Death with Dignity movement. During our 2010-2011 fiscal year, over 80% of our program expenses went toward providing education and information to promote Death with Dignity laws.

The mission of the Death with Dignity National Center is to provide information, education, research and support for the preservation, implementation and promotion of Death with Dignity laws which allow a terminally ill, mentally competent adult the right to request and receive a prescription to hasten death under certain specific safeguards. We promote Death with Dignity laws based on our model legislation, the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, as a stimulus to nationwide improvements in end-of-life care and as an option for dying individuals. We accomplish our mission by working to defend and promote Death with Dignity laws in court and in the court of public opinion through our nonprofit Death with Dignity National Center [501(c)(3)], and by working directly with public policymakers through our affiliated Political Action Fund [501(c)(4)].

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.

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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.

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.