Editorials and Public Opinion

In 2008 the Washington Death with Dignity Initiative has been endorsed by nine editorial boards.

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  • Counting Down But Not Out With Lung Cancer
    by Don Colburn, The Oregonian, 8/1/2007

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  • Act helps protect Oregonians, My View
    by Peg Sandeen, Portland Tribune, 7/27/2007

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  • Dr. Death's Second Thoughts
    by Nicholas Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 6/25/2006

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  • Respect the Will of the People
    by Lisa Corcoran, The Oregonian, 6/20/2006

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  • The Politics of Death: Committee Should Advance AB651
    San Francisco Chronicle, 6/20/2006

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  • Plea for a Forgotten Fighter - Let Kevorkian Die at Home with Dignity
    by Judy K-Terkel, The Madison Capital Times, 6/14/2006

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  • Oregon 2006 Primer: Iconoclasm and the GOP
    by GOB, www.redstate.com, 5/31/2006

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  • In the End, It Should Be About Choice
    by Phil Strickland, for The Californian, The North County Times, 5/30/2006

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  • Vermonters Deserve End-of-Life Options
    by H. Carmer Van Buren, MD, Burlington Free Press, 5/18/2006

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  • Voices: Assisted Suicide
    The Toronto Star, 5/17/2006

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  • Death with Dignity or a License to Kill?
    The Yorkshire Post, 5/12/2006

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  • Taking the Decision to Die
    The Guardian, 5/12/2006

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  • Cardinals, Bishops and Doctors Must Not Deny Us Our Last Rights
    by Polly Toynbee, The Guardian, 5/12/2006

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  • I'd like to die with dignity. And I don't want the medieval brigade interfering.
    by Camilla Cavendish, The London Times, 5/11/2006

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  • Medieval Thinking No Help to Dying
    by Tom Preston, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 5/3/2006

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  • Death with Dignity Needs Support
    by Cynthia Parent, The Rutland [Vermont] Herald, 4/14/2006

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  • Assurances of a Peaceful Death
    by Booth Gardner, Special to the Times, The Seattle Times, 4/13/2006

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  • The Battle Over the Legacy of Terri Schiavo
    by Bill Berkowitz, WorkingForChange, 4/6/2006

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  • Do we have strength not to sneeze?
    by Richard Payne, MD, Orlando Sentinel, 4/3/2006

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  • Some Culture Wars Haven't Exploded
    by Ellen Goodman, Syndicated Columnist, The Concord Monitor, 3/30/2006

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  • Assisted Suicide Has Its Merits
    by George Matheson, Barre Montpelier Times Argus, 3/17/2006

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  • French Favour Doctor-Assisted Suicide
    Angus Reid Global Scan, 3/15/2006

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  • The Culture of Death, And Why We Need to Cultivate It
    by Knute Berger, The Seattle Weekly, 3/15/2006

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  • Death: It's Not Pretty or Sinful. It's a Fact of Life
    by Mariel Garza, Los Angeles Daily News, 3/15/2006

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  • Oregon's Death with Dignity Numbers Don't Tell the Whole Story
    by Tom D'Antoni, The Huffington Post Blog, 3/9/2006

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  • Court Consistency
    The Barre Montpelier Times Argus, 3/8/2006

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  • In Our View: Discussion Necessary
    The Columbian (Vancouver, WA), 3/5/2006

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  • Assisted Suicide Provides Dignity, Respect for Terminally Ill
    by Rabbi Stephen S. Pearce, Jewish News Weekly, 2/27/2006

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  • A Fate Worse Than Death
    by Pat Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2/23/2006

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  • It's About the Killing, Not the Pain
    by Joan Ryan, San Francisco Chronicle, 2/23/2006

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  • SCOTUS: Oregon Assisted Suicide Decision is a Step Forward for Federalism and Liberty
    by Curtis White, The Remnant, 2/15/2006

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  • The Right to Make the Final Decision
    The Seattle Times, 2/14/2006

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  • Justice System Shows Hope
    by Harry Merker, The Ithica Journal, 2/6/2006

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  • Maybe Death with Dignity, But not Without Permission
    by Jason D. Ward, Boise State University Arbiter Online, 2/6/2006

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  • Many Americans Support the Right to Die
    Angus Reid Global Scan, 1/30/2006

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  • "Since We Asked" - Assisted Suicide Ruling
    Medford Mail Tribune, 1/29/2006

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  • Assisted-Suicide Ruling Advocates State Power
    by Nathan Alday, The Mississippi State Reflector, 1/25/2006

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  • "Dr. Death" Fighting for His Life
    by D. Allan Kerr, Seacoastonline.com, 1/25/2006

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  • Conflicted: Federalism v. Life
    by Paul Greenberg, Jewish World Review, 1/25/2006

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  • "Culture of Life" Declarations Drip of Hypocrisy
    by Tim Greer, Statesman Journal, 1/25/2006

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  • Supreme Court Right to Uphold Assisted Suicide Law
    by Thomas Bowden, The Ayn Rand Institute, 1/24/2006

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  • Guest Commentary: San Francisco Chronicle on Assisted Suicide
    The Ridgecrest Daily Independent, 1/23/2006

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  • DC Residents Review Assisted Suicide
    Angus Reid Global Scan, 1/22/2006

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  • Oregonians Speak Out on Assisted Suicide
    The Oregonian, 1/22/2006

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  • Dying Patients Should Have Option of Dignity
    Bothell Herald (Bothell, WA), 1/22/2006

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  • Message to Congress: Hands Off Assisted Suicide Law
    The Oregonian, 1/22/2006

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  • Credit Wyden, not Smith: Democrat defended the Death With Dignity Law
    The Register-Guard (Eugene), 1/21/2006

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  • Role Reversal: The Supreme Court on Physician Aid-in-Dying
    by Barbara Coombs Lee, Center for American Progress, 1/20/2006

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  • High Court Decision Leaves Assisted Suicide Issue Where it Belongs: With the States
    The Monitor (Texas), 1/20/2006

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  • Court's Ruling in Oregon Case Sound
    The Cincinatti Enquirer, 1/20/2006

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  • Court's Suicide Ruling Won't End Debate
    USA Today, 1/19/2006

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  • The Assisted-Suicide Decision
    The New York Times, 1/19/2006

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  • In Oregon Case, Court Reaffirms States' Authority
    by James Hanley, Lansing State Journal, 1/19/2006

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  • Berg sees recent ruling as a vote of confidence for the California Compassionate Choice Act
    by Shane Mizer, The Eureka Reporter, 1/19/2006

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  • Focus on Oregon's Death with Dignity Law: Court Gets Pat on Back, but Caution is in the Air
    The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), 1/19/2006

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  • State's Right, Attorney General's Wrong
    by Dale McFeatters, Scripps Howard News Service, 1/18/2006

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  • Opinion/Editorials Address Supreme Court Decision on Physician-Assisted Suicide
    KaiserNetwork.org, 1/18/2006

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  • Hawai'i Legislators Should Reconsider "Death with Dignity" Bill
    The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 1/18/2006

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  • Preview of New America
    by Al Rodbell, Al Rodbell's Blog, 1/17/2006

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  • I'm Proud to Be from the "Death With Dignity" State of Oregon
    by Russell Shaw, The Huffington Post, 1/17/2006

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  • Let's Get Serious About Relieving Chronic Pain
    by Jane E. Brody, The New York Times, 1/10/2006

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  • 'Political Misbehaving' in Schiavo Case
    by Ed Susman, UPI.com, 1/9/2006

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  • ACLU of Southern California: Support Compassionate End-of-Life Choices
    www.aclu-sc.org, 1/6/2006

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  • Strong Public Support for Right to Die
    by The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, 1/5/2006

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  • The Big Chill — Inserting the DEA into End-of-Life Care
    by Timothy E. Quill, M.D., and Diane E. Meier, M.D., New England Journal of Medicine, 1/5/2006

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  • Superior production of Whose Life enlivens theater troupe's debut at Museum of Art
    by Jack Zink, Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, 1/5/2006

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  • An End to the Suffering
    by Malcolm F. Severance, PhD, Livin' the Vermont Way Magazine, 1/1/2006

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  • What Congress Should Really Be Asking Alito About
    by Tom D'Antoni, The Huffington Post, 12/13/2005

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  • Opinion: To Live and Die With Dignity
    by Michelle Mann, Law Times (Ontario), 11/28/2005

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  • Editorial: A Test of Life and Death
    The Hartford Courant, 11/22/2005

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  • Editorial: Empty Words
    Rutland Herald, 11/16/2005

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  • Opinion: The Ultimate Kindness
    by Chuck George, LewRockwell.com, 11/14/2005

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  • Opinion: Make Your Death Plans Now
    by Harry Merker, The Ithica Journal, 11/11/2005

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  • Opinion: Alito's Libertarian Streak
    by Ilya Somin, 11/11/2005

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  • Opinion: No Dignity In Death By Dehydration
    by June Maxam, The North Country Gazette, 11/11/2005

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  • Editorial: Unintended Consequence - Defeat of Proposition 73 could generate support for California 'death with dignity'
    by Will Shuck, Capitol Weekly.net, 11/10/2005

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  • Editorial: A Public Death, A Lasting Gift
    The Concord Monitor, 11/9/2005

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  • Editorial: When Leviathan is a Republican
    by Jacob Sullum, TownHall.com, 11/9/2005

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  • Editorial: The Right to Die
    by Susan Jacoby, AARP Bulletin, 11/1/2005

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  • Editorial: Justice Scalia excludes you from the Court
    by Nat Hentoff, Jewish World Review, 10/31/2005

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  • Poem: Our Legacy
    by Karen L. Kirchdoerfer, Whitehall, PA, 10/28/2005

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  • Blog: The Power of Choice
    by Andrew Hodgdon, PULSE Web Log (inthefray.com), 10/24/2005

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  • Blog: The End of Federalism?
    by John C. Eastman, The Claremont Institute Blog, 10/24/2005

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  • Editorial: Miers Understands States' Rights
    by Froma Harrop, The Providence Journal, 10/19/2005

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  • Editorial: Justice Kennedy - 'It's a Tough Case'
    by James Kilpatrick, The Southern Illinoisian, 10/18/2005

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  • Editorial: Assisted suicide and the Supreme Court - Oregon's Future with the Roberts Court
    by Stephan Kanter, The Oregonian, 10/17/2005

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  • Opinion: Give Me Liberty At My Death
    by Alan Eder, University of Arizona, Arizona Daily Wildcat, 10/17/2005

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  • Opinion: Conservatives and Christians in Power Find Liberal Tactics Appealing
    by Bob Strodtbeck, Best Syndication Forums, 10/16/2005

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  • Editorial: Assisted Suicide - A Necessary Freedom
    by Jessica Derleth (University of Oregon), The Daily Emerald, 10/14/2005

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  • Editorial: Assisted Suicide Not a Case for Federal Courts
    by Staff Editorial, The Daily Illini and The Pitt News, 10/13/2005

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  • Letter: Assisted Death More Humane Than Agonizing, Painful Death
    by Judith in Iowa, 10/13/2005

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  • Editorial: All Should Have Right to Die
    Bowling Green News, 10/12/2005

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  • Letter: Agrees With Betty Rollin's Editorial
    10/12/2005

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  • Editorial: This is No Place for DEA Agents
    by Froma Harrop, Providence Journal, 10/12/2005

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  • Editorial: Leave Death With Dignity Alone
    The Missoulian, 10/11/2005

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  • Poll: Physicians and General Public Support Physician-Assisted Suicide
    HCD Research, 10/11/2005

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  • Editorial: Keep Federal Hands Off Oregon Law
    by Mitch Albom, The Buffalo News, 10/11/2005

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  • Editorial: Let Oregon Keep Suicide Statute
    Atlanta Journal Constitution, 10/11/2005

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  • Opinion: Feds Seek to Legislate Who Lives and Who Dies
    by Ben Shore (San Diego State University), The Daily Aztec, 10/11/2005

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  • Opinion: Death with Dignity is Endangered
    by M. Charles Bakst, The Daily Breeze (Torrence, CA), 10/10/2005

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  • Editorial: Our View - The Wrong Tool
    Midland Daily News, 10/10/2005

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  • Editorial: Supreme Court Kills State Rights
    Amarillo Globe News, 10/10/2005

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  • Blog: Death With Dignity - John Roberts Set To Legislate From The Bench
    by Balletshooz, Blogger News Network, 10/10/2005

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  • Editorial: When Life's Flame Goes Out
    by Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA Today, 10/10/2005

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  • Editorial: Kevorkian Has No Place in Supreme Court Debate
    The Statesman-Journal (Salem, OR), 10/10/2005

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  • Editorials & Opinions
    USA Today, 10/9/2005

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  • Editorial: Let States Decide on Assisted Suicide
    San Jose Mercury News, 10/8/2005

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  • Poll: Readers Share Their Views on Physician-Assisted Suicide
    The Statesman-Journal (Salem, OR), 10/7/2005

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  • Editorial: Autonomy for Oregon
    The Washington Post, 10/7/2005

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  • Opinion: Government Has No Jurisdiction to Determine Life and Death
    by Kate Corring (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University), Collegiate Times, 10/7/2005

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  • Editorial: Life Without the Critical Fifth Vote
    by Marcia Coyle, The National Law Journal, 10/7/2005

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  • Editorial: Right to Die Under Attack
    by Marcia Angell, The Miami Herald, 10/7/2005

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  • Editorial: Ulterior Motives?
    by J. Swygart, The Decatur Daily Democrat, 10/6/2005

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  • Story Makes Strong Case for Death with Dignity
    by Linda Szumny, USA Today, 10/6/2005

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  • Letter: Christian, Republican, Supporter of Death with Dignity
    by David in Ventura, CA, 10/5/2005

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  • Opinion: Report From the Front
    by Micahael H. White, 10/5/2005

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  • Editorial: The Dying, Not the Feds, Deserve Final Say on Life
    USA Today, 10/5/2005

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  • Editorial: My Husband Died With Dignity
    by Nora Miller, USA Today, 10/3/2005

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  • Readers Debate the Ethics, Use of Assisted Suicide
    The Statesman-Journal (Salem, OR), 10/2/2005

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  • Editorial: In the End, Peace of Mind
    by Betty Rollin, Los Angeles Times, 9/25/2005

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  • Editorial: Should High Court Oveturn Oregon's Assisted-Suicide Law?
    by Richard R. Aguirre, The Statesman-Journal (Salem, OR), 9/25/2005

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  • Editorial: A Dying Choice
    by Cassie MacDuff, The Press-Enterprise, 9/20/2005

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  • Editorial: Political equations are in for a revision
    by Joan Biskupic, USA Today, 9/6/2005

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  • Poll: Medical End-of-Life Decisions for Children in the Netherlands
    Source: American Medical Association (AMA), 9/1/2005

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  • Editorial: The Sanctity of Life
    by Peter Singer, Foreign Policy, 8/31/2005

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  • Poll: Most Britons Back Assisted Suicide
    Angus Reid Global Scan / Angus Reid Consultants, 8/30/2005

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  • Will We Ever Arrive at the Good Death?
    by Robin Marantz Henig, New York Times Magazine, 8/7/2005

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  • Poll: U.S. Adults Favor Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide
    by Humphrey Taylor, Harris Interactive Inc., 4/27/2005

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  • Editorial: The right to die on one's own terms is the whole point
    The Toledo Blade, 2/25/2005

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  • Poll: The View from Mainstream America - The Catholic Voter in Summer 2004
    by Belden Russonello & Stewart, Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC), 7/13/2004

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  • Editorial: Path to a Peaceful Death
    by Betty Rollin, The Washington Post, 5/30/2004

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  • Editorial: Suicide Bill - Weary of the Post-Mortems
    The Honolulu Advertiser, 3/15/2004

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  • Opinion: Don't Despair Over Bill's Rejection
    by Roland L. Halpern, The Honolulu Advertiser, 3/12/2004

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  • Editorial: Raw Issue Handled With Dignity
    by David Shapiro, The Honolulu Advertiser, 3/10/2004

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  • Editorial: Terminally Ill Deserve the Right to Choice in Dying
    The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 3/8/2004

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  • Editorial: Death with Dignity Isn't Going Away
    The Honolulu Advertiser, 3/4/2004

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  • Poll: Hawai'i Issue Study - Issues Affecting Those Dying of a Terminal Disease
    QMark Research & Polling, 1/16/2004

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  • Editorial: Harvard Professor Supports Physician-Assisted Dying
    by Sanya Patel, University Wire (The Pitt News via U-Wire), 11/3/2003

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  • Poll: Physician-Assisted Suicide Supported in Arizona
    by Social Research Laboratory at Northern Arizona University, Grand Canyon State Poll, 3/14/2003

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  • Editorial: Good, Bad to Assisted Suicide Law
    by Frank H. Boehm, The Tennessean, 6/2/2002

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  • Poll: 2-1 Majorities Continue to Support Rights to Both Euthanasia and Doctor-Assisted Suicide
    by Humphrey Taylor, The Harris Poll, Harris Interactive, 1/9/2002

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  • Editorial: Leave Assisted Suicide to Doctors and Patients
    by Tanya Albert, AMN News Staff, American Medical News, 6/4/2001

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  • Poll: Oregon Physicians' Attitudes About and Experiences With End-of-Life Care
    by Linda Ganzini, M.D., et al, Journal of the American Medical Association, 5/9/2001

    Defend dignity. Take action.

    For more than 14 years, the Death with Dignity National Center (DDNC), a 501(c)(3), non-partisan, non-profit organization, has been the leading advocate in the death with dignity movement. Leaders in our organization originally wrote and have continued advocating for the Oregon Death with Dignity Law. DDNC has met these challenges through extensive legal defense of the Oregon law, education and outreach programs, and by developing and nurturing diverse financial resources with one goal in mind: to ensure DDNC's financial vitality and its position as a leader in the death with dignity movement.

    Your donation today will enable us to continue to advocate for the right of the terminally ill to die with dignity. Please click here to give a secure, online donation. Thank you.

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    Washington: Yes on 1000

    For two years, our highest organizational priority has been securing passage of the Washington Death with Dignity Act through the voter initiative process.

    Our generous donors have helped us provide the campaign with over $300,000 in seed money and we have pledged to raise an additional $650,000 for the campaign. We were an instrumental part of the team that devised the campaign structure, and we will continue to provide political strategy and legal expertise throughout the campaign.

    Read on for an insider's analysis of the Washington campaign.

    About Death with Dignity

    The greatest human freedom is to live, and die, according to one's own desires and beliefs. The most common desire among those with a terminal illness is to die with some measure of dignity. 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 (DDNC) is the leader in this movement, successfully establishing, advancing and defending the landmark Oregon Death with Dignity Act -- a national catalyst for openly discussing and actively reforming end-of-life care for those who are terminally ill.

    Learn more about the National Center and our family of organizations.

    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. Based on this commitment, we are pleased to provide you with support and information as you face the difficult challenges ahead.

    Access 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.

    In our Research Center you will find frequently asked questions, the history of the death with dignity movement, state monitoring statistics, and a copy of this groundbreaking statute.

    Dive into the archives of the National Center.