By Chris Haring Oregon released its 26th annual Death with Dignity Act report, employing raw data to help highlight the positive impacts of the nation’s first aid-in-dying law. Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act has been a pioneering model for expanded end-of-life options since its passage in 1994. The 2023 annual report provides valuable insights into … Continued
By Chris Haring Despite residual barriers in the wake of a recent expansion of Oregon’s Death with Dignity law, doctors are innovating ways to help affected patients. In July 2023, Oregon was one of two states, along with Vermont, to amend the residency requirement to its Death with Dignity Act, expanding aid in dying to … Continued
In 2023, Oregon and Vermont both passed laws removing residency requirements from their medical aid-in-dying (MAID) legislation, after the successful lawsuits of Gideonse v. Brown in Oregon and Bluestein v. Scott in Vermont. This means that, unlike in most states that have Death with Dignity legislation, qualified healthcare providers in Oregon and Vermont are now … Continued
By Chris Haring In a recent segment, residents shared thoughts and personal stories on the expansion of Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act and physician-assisted dying Right-to-die advocates in Oregon scored a significant victory in July, as Gov. Tina Kotek (D) signed HB 2279 into law. The legislation aims to improve the state’s 30-year-old Death with … Continued
Portland, Oregon, July 14, 2023 – Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has officially signed HB2279 into law, making Oregon the second state to remove residency requirements to access the state’s Death With Dignity law. The legislation was spurred by a lawsuit challenging the residency requirement on constitutional grounds. In Oregon, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum settled the … Continued
Yesterday, Oregon’s Legislature passed a law (HB2279) officially eliminating the residency requirement from their Death with Dignity law. Although some counties in Oregon were already allowing non-resident patients to participate in medical aid in dying (MAID), the new law allows for MAID across the whole state. The bill stems from a lawsuit brought by an … Continued
By Chris Haring In its 25th year since legalization, a record number of Oregonians choose Death with Dignity and opt for medical aid in dying as part of their end-of-life care In 1994, Oregon became the first state to legalize Death with Dignity, which was implemented in 1997. In the 25 years since, the state … Continued
By Chris Haring Death doulas and volunteers from organizations like End of Life Choices Oregon provide aid for those seeking physician-aid in dying due to terminal illnesses. “Traditional” doulas – those who provide emotional, physical, and informational support to a pregnant person and their partner before, during, and after childbirth – are known fairly widespread. … Continued
Former Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts is known for her trailblazing political career. In addition to her many accomplishments as Oregon’s first woman governor, serving from 1991-95, she also has been a high-profile advocate for a number of causes, including disability rights and death with dignity. Her advocacy for the latter cause was inspired by her husband, Frank … Continued
Former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, MD, is a nationally recognized leader in health policy and a staunch supporter of the Oregon Death with Dignity Act. In 1997, in his first term as governor, he defended Oregon’s law from an attempt by legislators to repeal it, threatening to veto any repeal bill sent to his desk. Kitzhaber … Continued
The Oregon Death with Dignity Act turns 25 today. On November 8, 1994, Oregonians voted to pass the Act, the first of its kind in the world. By voting to enact the nation’s first death with dignity statute, Oregonians demonstrated their belief that terminally ill patients deserved the right to choose how they die. The historic vote … Continued
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the passage of Measure 16, the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, we are featuring interviews with those who in 1994 campaigned for and supported Measure 16. Today we are featuring former Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts, one of the state’s most accomplished politicians and the first woman to be elected … Continued
Today marks 23 years since Oregon voters first approved the Death with Dignity Act, our nation’s first assisted dying statute. For the next three years, the law was embroiled in the judicial system, as the opponents challenged the will of the people of Oregon in courts. The law went into effect on October 27, 1997, and a … Continued
This is the full transcript of the speech former Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts gave at our luncheon commemorating the 20th anniversary of implementation of the Oregon Death with Dignity Act. There are so many stories to tell, I get so nervous. We have known each other for a very long time and there are others … Continued
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of implementation of the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, we are featuring stories of those who in 1997 campaigned against the repeal of the law adopted by Oregon voters 3 years before. Other installments in the series: When the Oregon state Legislature made the unprecedented decision to place Measure 51 on the November 1997 … Continued
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of implementation of the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, we are featuring stories of those who in 1997 campaigned against the repeal of the law adopted by Oregon voters 3 years before. Today we are featuring excerpts from citizen letters to Oregon State Representatives urging them to support the Act and defeat … Continued
This year we commemorate the 20th anniversary of implementation of the Oregon Death with Dignity Act. We are featuring stories of those who in 1997 campaigned against the repeal of the law adopted by Oregon voters 3 years before. Today we launch the series with an overview of the year as summarized in the 1997 … Continued
Just over twenty years ago, on November 8, 1994, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize “physician assisted suicide.” On that day, by a margin of 51 to 49 percent, voters passed the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, a ballot initiative now codified at ORS 127.800-127.897. The Death with Dignity Act permits state licensed, Drug Enforcement Administration … Continued
In a Boston Globe story, Dr. Peg Sandeen and other medical aid in dying advocates respond to false arguments made by Cardinal Sean O’Malley in a recent op-ed. In Death with Dignity’s campaigns in Massachusetts, the staunchest opponent we face has consistently been the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. On April 15, 2024, the leader … Continued
By Chris Haring Several oncologists discuss how maintaining professional boundaries and regular self-reflection are crucial when treating patients with terminal illnesses. When we talk about death and its effects on those left behind, we often think of loved ones of the deceased, such as family and friends. However, as Donavyn Coffey explains in a recent … Continued
By Chris Haring As aid-in-dying champions Assemblymember Amy Paulin and Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal continue to fight for their assisted-dying bill, voters have made their wishes clear. After nearly a decade of near-misses and stalled efforts, the most recent legislative push for New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act (A995/S2445), sponsored by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (District … Continued
By Chris Haring A law professor recently joined a podcast from medical influencer KevinMD to discuss why some restrictions on medical aid in dying lack a scientific basis. Since Oregon became the first state to legalize physician-assisted death in 1994, the right-to-die movement has gained considerable traction among the public, which has resulted in significant … Continued
By Chris Haring In an 18-minute keynote speech, Elena Constantinou of Cyprus explained what medical aid in dying is and why her country should legalize Death with Dignity. When, in September 2023, Elena Constantinou’s cancer-stricken father expressed the desire to end his unbearable (and worsening) pain and suffering, she and his doctors were legally unable … Continued
Six Legislators From Across New York State Explain Their Support for NY Medical Aid in Dying Act; Urge Colleagues to Act This Session Portland, Oregon, February 15, 2024 – A group of New York legislators is featured in a new video in support of the New York Medical Aid in Dying Act (A995a/S2445a), currently awaiting … Continued
By Chris Haring Anita Hannig, a cultural anthropologist and author of The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America, explains why MAID should be permitted. When, in 1994, Oregonians voted to approve the first-ever Death with Dignity Act in the nation, right-to-die advocates hoped it was just the start of allowing … Continued
YouGov Poll: New Yorkers Overwhelmingly Support Death with Dignity Law Majority Support Among Every Demographic Across New York. Portland, Oregon, February 8, 2024 – New York State citizens support medical aid in dying (MAID) by a 72%-23% margin, according to a new poll released today by YouGov. Every single demographic tested, from age to religion … Continued
By Chris Haring Following an emotional January public hearing, advocates are hoping that this session’s aid-in-dying bill clears its next legislative hurdle in February. Medical aid in dying is now closer than ever to being legally available for Minnesotans diagnosed with terminal illnesses who wish to assert autonomy during their final chapter and avoid needless … Continued
We are almost one month into the 2024 legislative session, and we’re seeing some serious momentum across the country! Amendments to existing laws have been introduced, bills continue to be referred to committees, and some states have already scheduled or received public hearings. Here’s what happened in the last two weeks of January: New Bills … Continued
By Chris Haring Right-to-die advocates, including state lawmakers, displayed their support for the latest version of an assisted-dying bill ahead of a recent public hearing. When, in a powerful moment at a January 22 press conference at the Virginia General Assembly building in Richmond, state Senator Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax) shared a heartfelt letter in favor … Continued
Task Force Spent Six Months Studying the Issue to Give Terminally Ill Patients the Right to Die with Dignity Portland, Oregon, January 22, 2024 – The New York State Bar Association officially backed a proposed state law to allow medical aid in dying for terminally ill patients in the State Legislature on Friday, January 19. … Continued
By Chris Haring New York state legislators Amy Paulin and Brad Hoylman-Sigal explain why their colleagues should urgently pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act this year. By 2016, when the debate around medical aid in dying gained significant traction in New York, five other jurisdictions across the United States had passed an assisted death … Continued
By Chris Haring A proposal introduced by Nashville Democrat Bob Freeman would expand end-of-life options for state residents who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. In a groundbreaking move, Tennessee Representative Bob Freeman (D-Nashville) recently filed a bill in the state’s General Assembly that aims to give Tennesseans the right to die with dignity. … Continued
By Chris Haring Lynda Bluestein, who fought to expand access to medical aid in dying in VT to out-of-state residents, traveled to use physician-assisted death in January. Lynda Bluestein, a passionate advocate for medical aid in dying from nearby Bridgeport, Connecticut, chose to die utilizing Death with Dignity the morning of January 4, surrounded by … Continued
By Chris Haring A recent story from The Guardian briefly looked at the state of play of medical aid in dying worldwide, highlighting the variations in laws across the globe. When Esther Rantzen, a presenter on the popular BBC program That’s Life! from 1973 to 1994, said in a recent interview that she joined the … Continued
By Chris Haring In a piece for WAMU/NPR’s 1A series, an assisted-death expert, a bioethicist, and a potential patient describe their outspoken support for the right to die. As 2024 quickly approaches, promising perhaps the most active year of assisted-dying legislation in states from coast to coast, the aid-in-dying movement in the United States continues … Continued
By Chris Haring Al Taylor, a church leader representing Upper Manhattan in the New York State Assembly, described how a personal experience altered his view on assisted death. When New York Assemblymember Al Taylor (D – 71st District) began his first term six years ago, he says he “was adamantly – to [his] core – … Continued
By Chris Haring Rollin, who served two decades on our board of directors, chose voluntary assisted dying earlier this month at the age of 87 in Switzerland. In the decades before Oregon voters approved the United States’ first Death with Dignity law in 1994, the widely misunderstood practice was considered a taboo topic (at best) … Continued