Other Organizations

There are several organizations devoted to end-of-life issues. Some groups, like DDNC, are donor-based and national in scope, provide public education and work to establish and defend death with dignity laws in various states. Other groups are member-based with area chapters that provide local resources and referral information. Below is a brief description of the national organizations.

Death with Dignity National Center was formed in 1994 in connection with the development and passage of death with dignity laws, as well as their defense and promotion nationwide. In 2004, DDNC merged with Oregon Death with Dignity, which successfully wrote and passed the landmark Oregon Death with Dignity Act.

Today, DDNC serves as the leader of the national death with dignity movement, with primary activities that include the legal and political defense of the Oregon law — including our recent victory in the U.S. Supreme Court — the law’s replication in other states, and national public education programs.

In 1997, a group called the Death with Dignity Alliance was formed to foster collaboration among three national end-of-life groups: DDNC, Compassion in Dying and Oregon Death with Dignity. The collaboration was so successful that the three groups jointly decided to merge into two -- DDNC and Compassion & Choices -- and the Death with Dignity Alliance was deactivated.

In addition, the Hemlock Society, which had changed its name to End of Life Choices, merged with Compassion & Choices in 2005.

Today, Death with Dignity National Center and Compassion & Choices are the two primary, distinct and national organizations focused on end-of-life care issues.

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