What's Going on in Washington?

The straight talk on implementation of the Death with Dignity Act

There have been news stories circulated that suggest implementation is going badly in Washington with few physicians willing to prescribe. One particularly disturbing story focused on the plight of a terminally ill man in eastern Washington who could not find a physician to prescribe under the auspices of the law. This was a tragic story; but, unfortunately, it was to be expected.

Death with Dignity offers patients one more option at the end of life — an option that, prior to the law being enacted, would have risked criminal prosecution for their loved ones and their physicians. It is, therefore not surprising that physicians were unwilling to change their practices the day after the law went into effect. In our culture, changes take time and the existence of a law does not mean that actions change overnight. The plight of a man dying without the relief of Death with Dignity was not a symptom of implementation failure, it was a symptom of years of cultural failure to address the problems of protracted dying brought about by advances in medical technology.

So, implementation will build slowly in Washington. We know this because we were here in Oregon for the first years of implementation. It will take time for physicians and pharmacists to become familiar and comfortable with the process, and it will not happen overnight. We still deal with similar issues in Oregon. Implementation in Washington is unfolding along the same trajectory that it did in Oregon. We should take comfort in this fact, and support physicians and pharmacists who are changing the ways they practice medicine.

As of this posting, four people have used the Washington law, the first in May, 2009. Monitor the implementation statistics on Washington.

Defend dignity. Take action.

You are the key to ensuring well-crafted Death with Dignity laws for all Americans. With your financial and volunteer help, the Death with Dignity National Center, a 501(c)(3), non-partisan, non-profit organization, has been the leading advocate in the death with dignity movement. Member contributions helped us pass a new Death with Dignity law in Washington, defend the Oregon law, and provide education and outreach programs for the vitality of the death with dignity movement.

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Who We Are

The Oregon Death with Dignity Political Action Fund partners with the Death with Dignity National Center and conducts lobbying and political activities in order to achieve the enactment of Death with Dignity laws in other states.

Learn more about efforts to bring dignity to people around the nation.

History

The Oregon Death with Dignity Political Action Fund (the Fund) began in 1993 as Oregon Right to Die, a state political action committee, formed to help pass the Oregon Death with Dignity Act. The Death with Dignity Act was tied up by legal challenges and a legislative repeal effort until the fall of 1997.

In late 2001, Oregon Right to Die changed its name and tax status to become the Oregon Death with Dignity Political Action Fund. This effort was undertaken so the organization could more easily combine its political strengths with the Death with Dignity National Center. Together these organizations are positioned to lead the charge in the death with dignity movement.

Learn more about the Fund 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. 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.

Dive into the archives of the National Center.