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New Poll: Pacific NW More Informed and Strongly Supports Expanded End-of-Life Options

Posted by Melissa Barber on July 8, 2011

A new poll by National Journal and The Regence Foundation found residents in Oregon and Washington were more supportive of a variety of end-of-life options than most Americans. This is the second poll in a three-part series, "Living Well at the End of Life: A National Conversation", which explores the conversations Americans have about death and dying. The findings illustrate some interesting similarities between the two states with Death with Dignity Acts and the conversations taking place about end-of-life care. From the PR Newswire:

"The Northwest is the region of the country that has grappled most directly with the complex and emotional issues surrounding care for people at the end of life," said National Journal editorial director Ronald Brownstein. "And this survey shows that most people in these states are comfortable with an approach that emphasizes not just the duration, but also the quality, of life — though they share the concerns we've seen nationally about cost, information and control at this difficult and vulnerable juncture for families."

Washingtonians and Oregonians are also overwhelmingly supportive of local legislation that has created more opportunities for end-of-life care options, including the POLST, physician directive on life sustaining care, and the Death with Dignity Act allowing for physician-assisted [death].

Read more: New Poll: Pacific NW More Informed and Strongly Supports Expanded End-of-Life Options

June Blog Recap

Posted by Melissa Barber on July 6, 2011

News from www.DeathwithDignity.org

Read more: June Blog Recap

July Tweetchat: Death with Dignity & Medical Professionals

Posted by Melissa Barber on June 30, 2011

One of the unique and critical perspectives shared in How to Die in Oregon was that of Cody Curtis' oncologist, Dr. Katherine Morris. As director Peter Richardson mentions in this video, finding a doctor who was willing to talk on camera about prescribing medication under Oregon's Death with Dignity Act was a huge challenge. He had been filming for two years and was close to completing filming before he met Cody, her family and her physician. Up to that point he often didn't even know the names of the prescribing physicians.

The doctors who prescribe under the Oregon and Washington laws aren't in any way ashamed or embarrassed about honoring their patients' requests; rather, they feel they must remain anonymous because of the negative stigma which still surrounds this issue.

Read more: July Tweetchat: Death with Dignity & Medical Professionals

Laws Should Reflect Diversity of Opinions

Posted by Melissa Barber on June 28, 2011

Rabbi Anson LaytnerYou needn't agree with physician-assisted death to support Death with Dignity laws. Most people wouldn't and don't choose this end-of-life option but still advocate for others to be able to make this decision for themselves. If everyone who supported Death with Dignity laws were also adamant they would exercise this option when the time came, we'd expect a large percentage of Oregonians to have hastened their deaths sometime in the last 13 years.

In reality, the opposite is true: In 1997, 60% of Oregon voters decided to uphold their groundbreaking legislation, and the number of deaths reported under Oregon's law accounts for only 0.2% of all Oregon's deaths. It's an option which is seldom used but lends profound peace of mind to thousands of Oregonians who know they'll be able to control when or whether to take the life ending medication if they ever face a terminal illness.

Read more: Laws Should Reflect Diversity of Opinions

Improving End-of-Life Care Options With Your Help

Posted by Peg Sandeen, MSW on June 23, 2011

Her wish was to die at home, but this was not fulfilled.

We believe each and every terminally-ill adult has the right to the highest quality palliative care and to end suffering when it becomes too much. Everyday, the Death with Dignity National Center works to improve and expand your end-of-life options.

Through the work we do we often hear stories of difficult deaths which could have been more peaceful. I'd like to share a personal story of one woman's desire for a peaceful death and her family's efforts to honor her wishes. This is the story of Jessie and Anya.

Jessie was strong, determined, and facing death. She lived in Pennsylvania, a state without a Death with Dignity law. She and her family had many discussions about her end of life wishes — several of them with her physicians. However, without a Death with Dignity law, her ultimate wish to die in peace at home and with dignity was not possible. Jessie did not experience the kind of death she so wanted. Having witnessed her mother's death and after watching How to Die in Oregon, Anya began supporting our efforts with the hope others will have options her mother did not.

Anya wrote in a letter to her mother's hospital:

Read more: Improving End-of-Life Care Options With Your Help

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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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