In Washington

Overview and History

Not long after the time-tested Oregon Death with Dignity Act received its final court victory through the 2006 US Supreme Court ruling, Washington voters approved of their state's Death with Dignity Act in 2008.

State of Washington Statistics

The Washington Department of Heath monitors and enforces compliance with the Washington Death with Dignity Act. The law in Washington State was implemented in March 2009, and Washington's Department of Heath has released its first full year of reporting. According to the report, in 2011, 70 terminally ill patients used the state law to hasten their deaths.

Washington Resources

Death with Dignity: the Law and How to Access it: A summary of the state law, who qualifies and the prescribed medication request process.
C&C of Washington: A nonprofit that helps patients navigate the request process of the Washington Death with Dignity Act.
Washington's Compliance and Surveillance Forms: Forms for requesting the prescribed medication and the physician compliance forms are available through the state's health divisions.
Washington Department of Health: The Washington Department of Health provides information about the laws, the statute, and annually reports on usage of the law.

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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Your donation helps us continue to advocate for the right of the terminally ill to die with dignity.

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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.