RSSIn Our View: Discussion Necessary
By None, The Columbian (Vancouver, WA), March 5, 2006
Editorial
Death-with-dignity issue gains momentum
With unintended irony the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 17 breathed permanent life into the death-with-dignity issue.
The land's highest court upheld Oregon's unique doctor-assisted suicide law that allows a person whose terminal illness and mental health has been confirmed by two doctors, and who undergoes a 15-day waiting period, to receive a lethal prescription of drugs.
Within days of that ruling, the death-with-dignity issue spread north. In the Washington Legislature, state Sen. Pat Thibaudeau, D-Seattle, introduced a doctor-assisted suicide bill, which unfortunately never made it out of committee. The debate would have been beneficial, and attempts to have that discussion should be renewed in Olympia next year.
Now attention to the issue has spread from Oregon southward. On March 24 the Los Angeles Times published a poignant and revealing article about this subject by Sam Howe Verhovek based on an interview with former Washington Gov. Booth Gardner. The fact that Gardner plans to introduce in Washington state an initiative supporting doctor-assisted suicide was not new. But some of the personal details in the Times story helped readers understand what a deeply personal and sensitive family matter this issue typically becomes.
Gardner was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 13 years ago. Verhovek reported that Gardner's support of a death-with dignity law is supported by his wife and his daughter, but not his son. Doug, unlike his father a Republican, was a delegate to the 2004 Republican convention, and according to Verhovek, "says he opposes legally sanctioned suicide because society should 'err on the side of life.'"
Such political differences are common in families. Resulting conversations are difficult, but necessary, and these conversations are necessary among legislators as well.
Verhovek wrote about how this issue was not as crucial for Gardner in 1991 when a death-with-dignity initiative appeared on a Washington state ballot. The governor took no stance on the issue, and cannot even recall how he voted on it. Now, though, the issue matters, and Gardner has assumed an advocate's role. That role should be respected, even commended. And the beliefs of people who oppose doctor-assisted suicide deserve respect, too.
But one thing is certain in our state now that the Supreme Court has ruled and the momentum is spreading: It's time to talk.
Share on StumbleUpon
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.
Get Email Updates
Sign up for the latest news, blogs, and action alerts in the fight for Death with Dignity.
Political Action Fund
The Death with Dignity National Center partners with the Oregon Death with Dignity Political Action Fund (the Fund) to conduct lobbying and political activities in order to achieve the enactment of Death with Dignity laws in other states. The partnership resulted in tremendous success with the resounding win in the 2008 Washington Death with Dignity campaign.
Learn more about the Fund's efforts to bring dignity to people around the nation.
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.
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.
