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Several times a day we answer questions from students, terminally-ill individuals, and many others about the specifics of Death with Dignity laws, dying peacefully, end-of-life resources, and many other things related to death and dying. This blog category helps answer many of these frequently asked questions.

Please also see our Frequently Asked Question and Physicians' Frequently Asked Questions pages for more information.

Have other questions? Contact Melissa with your suggestions for other blog posts.

• Myth 3: Death with Dignity Acts are a slippery slope and will lead to euthanasia

  Posted by Melissa Barber on February 22, 2012

  Reality: A key aspect of the Death with Dignity laws in Oregon and Washington is patients must self-administer medication prescribed under the safeguards of the laws. Euthanasia, on the other hand, refers to the act of painlessly but deliberately causing the death of another who is suffering from an incurable, painful disease or condition—most commonly administered through a lethal injection.

  Conflating these two very different concepts is a specialty of people opposed to Death with Dignity Acts; their aim is to confuse people about what's allowed and what isn't. The fact is, these laws give patients control of their own dying process, and the option to shorten their suffering in their final days. The terminally ill individual ...

  Read more: Myth 3: Death with Dignity Acts are a slippery slope and will lead to euthanasia

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• Myth 2: It attacks the dignity and threatens the lives of people with disabilities

  Posted by Melissa Barber on February 21, 2012

  Reality: This lie is quite pervasive. In order to qualify to make a request for medication under the Oregon and Washington Death with Dignity Acts, a person must be an adult (over the age of 18), a resident of Oregon or Washington, judged mentally competent by his or her physicians, and have a terminal illness which will result in death in six months or fewer. Nowhere in these laws does having a disability qualify an individual to request life-ending medication.

  In fact, in section 127.805 s.2.01 the Oregon law specifically states, "No person shall qualify under the provisions of ORS 127.800 to 127.897 solely because of age or disability." The Washington Death with Dignity Act ...

  Read more: Myth 2: It attacks the dignity and threatens the lives of people with disabilities

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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.

Learn more about our family of organizations.

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.

Find resources for patients and families.

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.

Dive into the archives of the National Center.