RSSThe Washington Death with Dignity Initiative
Washington Voters Pass Death with Dignity Act
Voters of Washington stood up for the rights of terminally ill individuals and passed the Washington Death with Dignity Act - 58.68% (yes) to 41.32% (no).
14 years ago, Oregon voters changed the entire debate about end-of-life care. After surviving repeal efforts, legal challenges that went all the way to the Supreme Court and efforts by the Bush Administration to shut down the law, we have shown that our law in Oregon works, just as it will work in Washington. We have shown that people can have control over the end of their lives in a dignified, safe way that has improved end-of-life care from pain control to hospice.
Now, the real winners are people who will face a terminal illness knowing that they have control, knowing that they can decide when it is the right time for them to end their suffering. And tonight, we honor those brave people who fought so long for this right, but died before seeing their efforts come to fruition.
Change never comes easy. This is the first major advancement in the death with dignity movement since the US Supreme Court ruled against the Bush Administration in 2006. We will continue to move forward as people from other states decide they want a law and are willing to work for one in their state. The Death with Dignity National Center will stand with them, just as we did here in Washington, and as we did 14 years ago in Oregon.
Thank you to everyone who supported this campaign.
Read the historical timeline of the Washington Death with Dignity Initiatve.
The Death with Dignity National Center and Oregon Death with Dignity Political Action Fund contributions to the Washington campaign.
Below are some useful links.
Here is what the Washington voters will see on their Ballot Title.
Complete text of the Washington Initiative.
The Washington Death with Dignity initiative has received an unprecedented number of newspaper endorsements - 21 in all! Below are links to each of them.
The Seattle Times, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, The Stranger, The Everett Herald, The Olympian, The Vancouver Columbian, The Issaquah Press, The Lewiston Tribune, The Sammamish Review, SnoValley Star, The Tri-City Herald, The Wenatchee World, Newcastle News, The Yakima Herald, The News Tribune, The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, The Chinook Observer, The Daily Evergreen, The Skagit Valley Herald, The Daily News Online, and The Puget Sound Business Journal.
Read additional endorsements from community and religious leaders as well as results of several independent studies.
Opponents to I-1000 are spreading lies and misinformation. Check the facts yourself at www.deathwithdignityfacts.com.
I-1000 was named one of the best statewide initiatives in 2008 in a document published by Progressive Future and the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center.
You can also visit Yes on I-1000 to find out more about the Washington Death with Dignity campaign.
If you are a resident of Washington state, we urge you to vote Yes on I-1000. View the videos below.
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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.
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.
