Details of the Death with Dignity Act
The law state that an Oregon resident who is a competent adult and as been diagnosed with a terminal illness that will kill the patient within six months may request a prescription for a lethal dose of barbiturates for the purpose of ending the patient's life. The patient must initiate the request, and any healthcare provider who has moral objections may refuse to participate.
The request must be confirmed by two witnesses. One of the witnesses must not be related to the patient or entitled to any portion of the patient's estate and must not be employed by a health care facility caring for the patient. After the request is made, the patient must be determined to be free of a mental condition impairing judgment. Another physician must examine the patient's medical records and confirm the diagnosis. If the request is authorized, the patient must wait at least fifteen days and make a second oral request before the prescription may be written. The patient has a right to take back the request at any time.
The request must be confirmed by two witnesses. One of the witnesses must not be related to the patient or entitled to any portion of the patient's estate and must not be employed by a health care facility caring for the patient. After the request is made, the patient must be determined to be free of a mental condition impairing judgment. Another physician must examine the patient's medical records and confirm the diagnosis. If the request is authorized, the patient must wait at least fifteen days and make a second oral request before the prescription may be written. The patient has a right to take back the request at any time.
Use of P.A.S. in Oregon
Oregon shows us that patients do not desire the option of physician-assisted suicide because of a lack of care. Physician-assisted suicide has been legal in Oregon for twelve years. Oregon can be used to determine whether this practice is beneficial or not and if it should be legalized nationwide. Out of all the patients in Oregon that chose physician-assisted suicide “87.7% were enrolled in hospice” and the rest had access to hospice. In Oregon the three largest commonalities between patients who chose physician-assisted suicide are “concerns about autonomy (90%), inability to engage in enjoyable activity (87%), [and] loss of dignity (84%).” The terminally ill patients demonstrated a good understanding of their situation and make clear and conscious choices about their death. Oregon also demonstrates that physician-assisted suicide would not be abused. “Overall PAD[physician-assisted suicide] accounts for less than 0.2% of all deaths, or about 1/1000 Oregonians who die each year.” This is because many terminal ill patients consider physician-assisted suicide, but many do not go through with it.