New Report on Washington's Death with Dignity Law Released
By Christine Cristiano
According to a report from the Washington non-profit group, Compassion & Choices, 28 terminally ill residents of the state have taken advantage of the state's Death with Dignity Law to end their lives with medications made available under the new law. The terminally ill residents were legally able to receive life-ending prescriptions under the Death with Dignity Law that came into effect in March. Out of the 28 deaths, only 11 of the individuals used pills to help facilitate their deaths; five residents died without assistance. The new law passed in November 2008, allows patients with fewer than 6 months to live the right to request doctors to prescribe lethal medications if the patient is deemed mentally competent. However, the patient must be capable of administering the medications to him/herself.
According to Dr. Tom Preston, retired cardiologist and University of Washington teacher, ''The tiny proportion of Washington deaths is in line with what we expected based on Oregon’s experience, and belies opponents’ predictions of widespread use or abuse.''
According to Robb Miller, Executive Director of Compassion & Choices in Washington, ''Deaths under the death with dignity act have been safe, legal and rare.'' However opponents to the new law argue that there shouldn't be any deaths that can be contributed to lethal drugs that are legally prescribed by the medical community. ''
Eileen Geller, President of True Compassions, argues that ''We ought not be celebrating numbers of people who have died from a lethal drug overdose. We don't believe assisted suicide is the answer to anything.''
Oregon is the only other state to pass a law that allows patients to purchase doctor prescribed lethal doses of medication to assist in their deaths.
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