Washington Preps Assisted Suicide Plan

Voters Approved It, Now State Prepares Guidelines For Doctors To Aid Suicide

(AP)  Washington state officials have four months to set up a new voter-approved law allowing doctors to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill patients.

Washington is now the second state in the nation to have such a law, and officials may look to neighboring Oregon for a blueprint.

The measure takes effect March 4. Officials at the attorney general's office and the state Department of Health said they have just started to go through the language of the measure, which passed Tuesday.

Department of Health spokesman Tim Church said it won't have to create a new office or section within the agency. Under the measure, any health care provider writing a prescription or dispensing medication must file a copy of the record with the Health Department, which is required to create an annual statistical report on how the law is used.

Church said questions about other responsibilities the department might have will be determined during the rule-making process, which hasn't started yet.

"We're going to be gathering information over the next few weeks and expect to start the rule-making process by the end of this month," he said.

Anne Martens, spokeswoman for the coalition that supported the measure, said the parties with an interest in the measure likely will study how Oregon's law was put into effect "and see if we can take that experience and make implementation as easy as possible here."

"I don't anticipate any legislative tinkering, but you can never rule that out," she said. "The law as written is identical to the law that's been working in Oregon. We don't see any need to change any part of it."

Opponents said they don't plan to be at the table to help with the process.

"We do not concede that Initiative 1000 is a law in this state," said Eileen Geller, campaign coordinator for the opposition. "Right now for us every option is on the table. Legal is one of them."

Any legal challenge could be difficult since the Washington law mirrors Oregon's law, which was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Under the new Washington law, any patient requesting fatal medication must be at least 18, declared competent and a resident of Washington state.

The patient would have to make two oral requests, 15 days apart, and submit a written request witnessed by two people. One of the witnesses must not be a relative, heir, attending doctor, or connected with a health facility where the requester lives.

Two doctors also would have to certify that the patient has a terminal condition and six months or less to live.

Jennifer Hanscom, spokeswoman for the Washington State Medical Association, which opposed the measure, said the organization has already started educating its more than 9,600 physicians about the new law. Information is on the group's Web site, and a newsletter was being sent to members.

"We respect the wishes of the public and the public has made their wishes known," she said.

She said it will be looking closely at the initiative language to see if there's room for improvements, but "we are not actively seeking any changes."

Under the measure, physicians and pharmacists are not required to write or fill lethal prescriptions if they are opposed to the law.

Since Oregon's law took effect in 1997, more than 340 people - mostly ailing with cancer - have used it to end their lives.

[gatofeo]

This is a long-needed law. I was born and raised in Washington but I now live in Utah.
My mother died in Spokane, after a nine-year battle with cancer. As a Belgian Resistance member in World War II, she fought the Nazis and was twice imprisoned by the Gestapo.
But she couldn''t vanquish cancer. Her last 8 months were bedridden. Her last three days were spent unconscious, mouth open, bald, dying at home.
She was due more dignity than that. Her Belgian Resistance group saved many downed allied fliers, and provided intelligence to the Allies. She deserved a better, kinder death than what she got.
She should have been allowed to slip away painlessly, while she could still say goodbye.
Instead, she left our family the memory of a cancer-addled proto-corpse, in all its horror, instead of the beautiful, loving, laughing woman she was.
There is no shame or evil in letting the near-dead die a dignified death if they choose. On the contrary, such an act is the height of compassion.
It''s ironic that Christians, who preach compassion and tolerance, deny these very benefits to others.
Christ weeps at what has been wrought in His name.

[ejcspau]

It is too bad a law has to be written to allow someone to die with dignity. It really is no one elses business but the person and their doctor.

[wayne081]

As a physician, I cannot disagree with you more. We have seen with abortion and now physician assisted suicide a gradual lose of our values. The next logical choice is to kill the unwanted, the disabled, the non-productive members of our society or the defective children. I am sorry for the lose of your mother, however we do NOT need physicians to be killing their patients.

[inketolstoy]

When suffering becomes a reason to kill, you have started down a slippery slope that will end in a very bad place.

[antoniof123]

As a physician, I cannot disagree with you more. We have seen with abortion and now physician assisted suicide a gradual lose of our values. The next logical choice is to kill the unwanted, the disabled, the non-productive members of our society or the defective children. I am sorry for the lose of your mother, however we do NOT need physicians to be killing their patients.
Posted by wayne081 at 12:13 PM : Nov 07, 2008

My wife is also a physician and she would disagree with you 100 percent of the time. You must be a general pract. Because if you had to deal with it and see her when she has to give the news then you might just sing a different song.

[backhomeco]

To those of you who think that this is the killing of the unwanted -- think again. Watching a loved one dying of a terminal illness is heart wrenching. There is nothing you can do to solve their pain and suffering. Having the option of legal suicide is humane and dignified -- versus illegal suicide which is generally inhumane. There comes a time when we instinctively know when our time is at an end. Is it not better to leave the stage on your own terms? We are part of the animal kingdom -- when we see an injured/sick animal whose injuries are beyond medicine, do we not euthanize them to relieve their suffering? Animals/pets have feelings of consciousness just like we do -- they are also a ''life''. I have a question -- why are Christians afraid to die? After all, you guys tell everyone else that when we die, we go to a better place. I''ve personally had a conversation with the Grim Reaper on several occasions, not of my choosing by the way. Meet death head-on rather than fear it -- the lights go out when they go out -- nothing more, nothing less.

[mick7744]

While I can readily agree with someone''s right to die with dignity (all of Dr Kevorkian%u2019s more publicized subjects were overachievers who made the rational decision to end their life on their terms%u2026all well and good.

What we must guard against is the RIGHT to die becoming the OBLIGATION to die%u2026as in an indigent patient taking a bed that could be occupied by a paying customer.

Who, in our fragmented, profit-above-all society can be trusted with such awesome responsibility? Certainly not any of the vermin in the Bush administration. They%u2019d pull a Florida-type confusing ballot scam on them and have selected victims unknowingly signing their lives away to maximize profits.

Take it slow, people%u2026take it slow!

[mick7744]

While I can readily agree with someone''s right to die with dignity (all of Dr Kevorkian%u2019s more publicized subjects were overachievers who made the rational decision to end their life on their terms%u2026all well and good.

What we must guard against is the RIGHT to die becoming the OBLIGATION to die%u2026as in an indigent patient taking a bed that could be occupied by a paying customer.

Who, in our fragmented, profit-above-all society can be trusted with such awesome responsibility? Certainly not any of the vermin in the Bush administration. They%u2019d pull a Florida-type confusing ballot scam on them and have selected victims unknowingly signing their lives away to maximize profits.

Take it slow, people%u2026take it slow!

[socialismsux]

More legislated freedom of death.

Liberals must love this!

[socialismsux]

One thing''s for sure, this law will definitely fit right in with the Muslim fundamentalists! They specialize in Suicide!

[inketolstoy]

"My wife is also a physician and she would disagree with you 100 percent of the time. You must be a general pract. Because if you had to deal with it and see her when she has to give the news then you might just sing a different song."

Who''s suffering do we care about here? Ours or theres?

[inketolstoy]

"It''s ironic that Christians, who preach compassion and tolerance, deny these very benefits to others.
Christ weeps at what has been wrought in His name."

There is nothing ironic in a Christian respect for life (even when suffering). It is the understanding that suffering is part of life, and that all life has value beyond the values that society espouses (monetary, happiness, freedom, etc.) What is ironic is that you speak for Christ, when you do not understand his teachings. Christ brought Lazarus back to life, but he did not make him immortal or free of pain. Lazarus would suffer more and eventually die again. According to your logic, he should have left him in the tomb.

[jn122736]

Certainly not any of the vermin in the Bush administration.
Posted by mick7744 at 02:19 PM : Nov 07, 2008

You are nothing but a piece of human garbage to bring politics into a subject like this. I can only hope that you meet a long slow death.
Posted by d7767w at 05:29 PM : Nov 07, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spoken like a true christian.

[mainedoggie]

========
Jennifer Hanscom, spokeswoman for the Washington State Medical Association, which opposed the measure
=========

Hi Jennifer,

Does Cancer hurt?

Just wondering.

[mainedoggie]

========
More legislated freedom of death.

Liberals must love this!

Posted by SocialismSux
================



What a dickweed.

[grammawhamma]

Hospice programs have been doing this for years all across the country. Family members of the terminally ill are given the morphine and told to give as much as it takes to relieve the pain of the cancer victim. If the cancer victim wants more it is given to them often resulting in death.

[user168-2009]

"One of the witnesses must not be a relative, heir, attending doctor, or connected with a health facility where the requester lives", and not being paid in any way. Otherwise it could turn into a business!

[truthislife1]

You know, none of us decided to become a baby. So none of us should decide to become a grave. My mom died from cancer 2 years ago. She knew she had wrecked her body. It was absolutely horrible. Her fight with cancer was an absolute victory, especially because she was a Christian. She knew where she was going, and did not want to go before the Maker said it was time. According to the Bible, death is an appointment and to many people show up early. We never know how God will turn things around, especially in death. Her memorial service was wonderful and painful. I wish I could hold on like she did. It shows how strong someone can be. If they can do it, it may help others to know they have affected someone''s life.

[toolmangler-2009]

Does Cancer hurt?
Just wondering.
Posted by mainedoggie at 11:58 PM : Nov 07, 2008



Only if you are alive when you have it.....

[forever1973]

"You know, none of us decided to become a baby."
Posted by truthislife1 at 06:24 PM : Nov 08, 2008

You are correct. I never recall asking to be called into existence, either.

[tbuckl]

Death comes to us all, I have an inalienable rights granted to me by almighty God, not men! When faced with death I am at my liberty to fined what is right for me and my God. I have a right to die slowly or fast, it is my choice to make not this idiot government. In the end I will choose for myself and my wishes will be carried out, I care not what the law says, I only care about my relationship with my God which is not open for the government to aborgate.

[standlee5]

They just want to save hospital costs. It''ll knock four months off hospital and medical costs. That''s a slippery slope.

[airboatboy1]

You are nothing but a piece of human garbage to bring politics into a subject like this. I can only hope that you meet a long slow death.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by d7767w at 05:29 PM : Nov 07, 2008

Just move to Washington! A long, slow death can be avoided!

[babooph]

The whaco right will go bonkers on this one !!

[ohioboomer]

Think about it......if you do not agree with the legislation, don''t do it. Don''t live there. Do yourself a favor and stop even thinking about it. No one is putting a gun to your head to make you act a certain way. If you THINK about this, it is really nothing if it doesn''t affect YOU; and vice-versa. But if you go ahead and get your shorts in a knot about all this, leave God out of it. This is government business and you don''t know who my God is anyway and I do not want you to make that decision for me in the midst of stuff about my country that affects thinking people. Thanks.......

[berniesenn]

Assisted suicide is a humanitarian law and a good one but it involves many complications. Life insurance: Will assisted suicide void a policy? Health care: Will health insurance pay for it? Justice: How will the supreme court deal with it? Congress: What will be the guidelines and rules for this? Social: In states where it hasn''t been put into law, will assisted suicide still be a crime? I am for the idea of a humanitarian law that shortens the pain of going through a slow death, but what will the rules be for using it?