Wash. Has 1st Death Under New Suicide Law

Woman With Pancreatic Cancer Dies After Taking Drugs Prescribed Under "Death With Dignity" Law

(AP)  A 66-year-old woman with terminal cancer has become the first person to die under Washington state's new assisted suicide law, an advocacy group said Friday.

Linda Fleming, of Sequim, died Thursday night after taking drugs prescribed under the "Death with Dignity" law that took effect in March, said Compassion & Choices of Washington.

The organization says Fleming was diagnosed last month with advanced pancreatic cancer. She would have had to have been diagnosed by two doctors as terminal in order to qualify for assisted suicide.

Officials with the advocacy group said Fleming died at home with her family, her dog and her physician at her bedside.

"The pain became unbearable, and it was only going to get worse," Fleming said in a statement released by the organization.

A physician prescribed the drugs, but patients in assisted suicides must administer the drugs themselves.

The new law was approved in November with nearly 60 percent of the vote. It is based on a 1997 Oregon measure, under which about 400 people have ended their lives.

Under both states' laws, physicians and pharmacists are not required to write or fill lethal prescriptions if they are opposed to the law. Some hospitals have opted out of the law, which precludes their doctors from participating on hospital property.

In Washington, any patient requesting fatal medication must be at least 18, declared competent and be a state resident.

Two doctors would have to certify that the patient has a terminal condition and six months or less to live. The patient must also make two oral requests, 15 days apart, and make a written request witnessed by two people.

[newlady1]

I AM LINDA FLEMING?S SISTER
HOW DO I FEEL ABOUT WHAT LINDA DID?

I AM A CHRISTIAN. SALVATION COMES THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, NOT FROM ANYTHING WE DO OR DO NOT DO. THE BIBLE IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
IT IS A VERY STRANGE PLACE I FIND MYSELF IN. NOT A SITUATION I EVER IMAGINED MYSELF IN. TO KNOW THAT MY SISTER INTENTIONALLY TOOK HER LIFE. HOWEVER I HAVE NOT FOR ONE SECOND CONSIDERED IT ANYONES BUSINESS BUT HER OWN. SHE WAS OF SOUND MIND, SHE WAS NOT MAKING THE DECISION FOR SOMEONE ELSES LIFE, ONLY HER OWN.
I HAVE HAD ONE EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE WHERE I EXPERIENCED PAIN THAT I DID NOT KNOW EXISTED, AND THAT SCARED ME TO DEATH (NO PUN INTENDED). IF A PERSON IS IN UNBEARABLE PAIN AND HAS NO CHANCE OF SURVIVAL, IT IS JUST PLAIN CRUEL TO PUT THEM THROUGH THAT. FOR WHAT? TO PROVE HOW SPIRITUAL THEY ARE? YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT EGOTISTICAL? HOW EGOTISTICAL IS THAT!
NOT TO MEMTION THE AGONY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO STAND BY HELPLESSLY WATCHING THEIR LOVED ONE SUFFERING EXCRUTIATING PAIN.
GOD IS FULL OF COMPASSION AND I?M SURE SUFFERING BREAKS HIS HEART.
SHE HAD AN INCREDIABLY HARD LIFE AND WHILE SHE DID NOT LIVE THE CONVENTIONAL CHRISTIAN LIFE, I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE SHE HAD A SAVING FAITH.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SHARED THIS SAME OPINION. IF WE ARE WRONG, GOD FORGIVE US AND I BELIEVE HE WILL. TO THE OTHERS, I DON?T BELIEVE YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED THE KIND OF PAIN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
THAT?S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

[aka_KJB]

The one true thing about life is that nobody gets out of here alive.

So, God punishes suicide. Does that mean the guy who fell on the grenade to save his buddies is burning in hell? It's still a suicide even if it's for "the greater good". Aren't generalizations fun?

[Ichabod09]

To me this whole argument reeks of circular logic and I have always been a proponet of the argument that circular logic has a hole in it. Right in the middle.
Posted by nojoy01 at 5:55 PM : May 22, 2009

It wasn't an argument. It was more of a vague, but open ended statement that could be interpreted from multiple angles. You saw what you saw. Someone else will see something different. Thanx for playing-next!

[nojoy01]

Theoretical question for the religious-Why would God punish a person that did not want to live when nobody actually asked to be created or born in the first place.

This question may be a little more involved than it appears on the surface.
Posted by Ichabod09 at 4:30 PM : May 22, 2009

Theoretical answer for the non-religious--First half of the question, not for failure to follow the rules laid down by the creator for a person to follow. For that the punishment is death as opposed to eternal life sitting at the right hand etc etc. Punishment is for overt acts opposing the creators' will and/or mocking etc. etc. Please note that while the woman in the story was suffering agonizing pain there is no reason to conclude that she was being punished for anything. By the standards of the religious it could well have been a visitation by the evil one trying to get her to forsake her faith Second half of the question. What makes you think anyone has a choice in the matter. Did you ask your parents to conceive you so that you might be born? To me this whole argument reeks of circular logic and I have always been a proponet of the argument that circular logic has a hole in it. Right in the middle.

[omded]

The laws in many states prohibit anyone from aiding another in the self induced termination of their own life. In other words, killing yourself is not encouraged, and, if you are prevented from doing so, you are entrusted to psychological care. You can also be charged if, in the process of your failed attempt, you create a public disturbance (ie. you sit on the edge of a bridge for several hours while police talk you down. You are cited for obstructing the traffic on the bridge.). However, a failed suicide attempt will rarely result in charges related directly to your attempt at ending your own life.

On the other hand, in most states, assisting a suicide is considered the same thing as assisting a murder. The "victim" is said to have murdered him/herself, and the assistor is said to have aided and assisted in the murder. As a result, people wishing to terminate their own lives are forced to do it alone, and, cannot be legally aided in their attempt. So, if someone doesn't know a painless, peaceful, and dignified way to end their life, they are unable to seek the assistance of someone with training in the medical sciences to find a way that is. All Washington's law does is allow doctors and other trained medical personal to consult the person regarding how to do the act. It doesn't condone anything. It merely allows medical personnel to provide guidance for a way to do it more peacfully without threat of penal or judicial consequences.

[Ichabod09]

Theoretical question for the religious-Why would God punish a person that did not want to live when nobody actually asked to be created or born in the first place.

This question may be a little more involved than it appears on the surface.

[stn_sage]

FINALLY! At least one state in America that's using common sense and showing a little compassion for the pain and suffering of it's citizens!

This state law is about helping and caring for human beings who are in absolute pain and distress! It's not about reckless, wanton life-taking!

We routinely extend kindness to animals in great distress by putting them out of their misery---it's about time that we extend the same courtesy to human beings, too!

[nojoy01]

Okey dokey-those states that have laws against suicide-what was the punishment for committing suicide and how did they plan on enforcing It?

Helium-no carbon dioxide is generated to create the suffocating sensation.
Posted by LithiumDeuteride at 4:17 PM : May 22, 2009

Actually, I think the laws are against attempting suicide. Which means that if some poor soul is despondent enough to try and commit sucide and fails, instead of getting help, they go to jail.

[nojoy01]

"...God does not give us more than we can bear..." Posted by blog_fever2

I'd say that death is a bit more, no one has yet survived bearing it.
Posted by brianbwb-2009 at 3:40 PM : May 22, 2009

Ah, but you see, for the faithful death is not the end but rather the beginning of eternal life etc. etc. As for the pain, however agonizing, it is but a brief second in the scheme of things eternal etc. etc. If you were to believe what they believe your comment is wrong because of eternal life. Since you don't believe what they believe your comment is valid, to you. Ya'alls' two sides talkin' 'bout this is like two people tryin' to talk on the phone with the phone lines down. Ya can say whatever ya want & holler as loud as ya want, but ain't none of ya'all gonna hear a word the others sayin'. To borrow a line from an old movie, "what we have here....is failure to communicate" Say what you want, it won't do anything but make you feel better. They can say what they want and it won't do anything but make them feel better.

[brianbwb-2009]

"...God does not give us more than we can bear..." Posted by blog_fever2

I'd say that death is a bit more, no one has yet survived bearing it.