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There's renewed energy behind the right-to-die movement: A voter initiative on the Washington State ballot would allow doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to dying patients.

If residents approve the measure, known as Initiative 1000 or the "Washington Death with Dignity Initiative," the state would become only the second in the country to allow the terminally ill to die with the help of a doctor. Oregon approved its own law in 1994.

Washington State voters rejected physician-assisted suicide in 1991, as have those in California, Michigan and Maine, the Associated Press notes. But unlike the first, failed initiative in Washington State, this one—sponsored by a coalition led by former Washington State Gov. Booth Gardner, who has Parkinson's disease—wouldn't let doctors administer lethal medicines to patients who can't take them on their own. Only the patients themselves would be able to use them to commit suicide.

Here are the parameters of the proposed law, according to the Yes on I-1000 Web site: Patients would have to be state residents who are 18 or older, be diagnosed with a terminal illness that gives them six months or less to live, and be mentally competent. They'd have to make three requests for medication — two verbal, and one in writing — with a 15-day waiting period between the first verbal request and the written one. There would be another 48-hour wait between the written request and the writing of the actual prescription.

Two people would have to witness the signing of the written request.

Since Oregon's law went into effect in 1997, 340 people have taken their lives, the AP says. That law, as well as the proposed Washington State measure, stop short of allowing euthanasia as it works in the Netherlands, the Seattle Times notes. There, doctors can administer lethal drugs.

(Image by iStockphoto/Arne Trautmann)

8 Comments

1. 1. Brett 04:23 PM 10/14/08

   According to the Washington initiative, no witnesses are required to confirm that the patient voluntarily ingested the lethal drugs. As written, the initiative is dangerous! The doctor lies on the death certificate to force the insurance company to pay and to avoid fights between heirs. One of those heirs could witness the permission slip. And, with no witnesses to the administration of the drug, that same heir could slip it to the patient.

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2. 2. SHopcraft 05:33 PM 10/14/08

   Reporters and editors who use the term ‘assisted suicide’ to describe a terminally ill patient’s choice to shorten a dying process that the patient finds intolerable, use the terminology of zealous opponents of this choice. Why would journalists adopt the language preferred by those opposed to this option? Medical, health policy, and mental health professionals recognize that the terms “suicide” and “assisted suicide” are inaccurate in this context and are biased and pejorative. Increasingly, mainstream medical, mental health and health policy organizations have adopted the term “aid in dying” to refer to this choice.

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3. 3. MSN 05:43 PM 10/14/08

   The proposed law is oxymoron. No death has dignity. People already can end their lives in a multitude of ways. They do not need to involve the medical profession. It is pure and simply a way to involve some one else to do their dirty work. In this crazy state, if the law passes, they will find a way to force physicians to assist in suicide.

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4. 4. yellowdogD 09:55 PM 10/14/08

   Jordan is a bit "lite" when it comes to doing his research on assisted suicide. Euthanasia is not legal in the Netherlands. Once they legalized assisted suicide, euthanasia was just the natural next step. It's not legal but it still happens.
   
   It's important to point out that nearly 1000 people a year are euthanized in the Netherlands and most of them are people with disabilities. Just like in the Netherlands the assisted suicide law in Oregon is being violated. Why don't we know about it? Because the Oregon Department of Health has no legal authority or funding to investigate abuses. Their system of "safeguards" is based on Doctors self reporting. So only those complying with the law are reporting and those breaking it aren't going to admit that they are breaking the law.
   
   Initiative 1000 is poorly written and would receive the grade of "F" in an academic setting for not being comprehensive and well thought out. Scientific rigor cannot be applied to the Oregon assisted suicide experiment because they destroy the underlying data every year so the truth about assisted suicide in Oregon won't be revealed.
   
   Scientists learn not to draw conclusions without valid and reliable data. Oregon, and Initiative 1000, keep the public from knowing the truth about assisted suicide by using secrecy and no transparency to prevent real scientists from studying how assisted suicide is practiced.
   
   Please vote "No" Initiative 1000.

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5. 5. Rainbow 01:35 AM 10/15/08

   As a practicing Catholic and a survivor of my brothers suicide,I am against
   Initiative I-1000. Suicide is not a good choice it ends ones life too soon and leaves loved ones asking themselves if they loved the deceased enough and if it was there fault somehow. Suicide is a painful way to die and a painful death to survive by loved ones which can cause life of those who are left behind to shift dramatically.
   I truly know what the term means for time to stand still and for the world to
   be upside down.
   Suicide is not part of Gods Plan for us. We should not take our own lives.
   Suicide is not part of the Natural Cycle of Life.
   Therefore Assisted Suicide is not part of the Natural Cycle of Life or Gods
   Plan for each and everyone of us here on this beautiful Earth.
   We should protect our right as citizens of Washington State and Human
   Beings within the Natural Cycle of Life and Gods Plan to die a natural
   death without anxiety and without harming others.
   Please Vote No on Initiative I-1000

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6. 6. Curator in reply to MSN 11:18 AM 10/15/08

   Which method do you expect sick, old people to use? Hanging? Shooting themselves? Carbon monoxide poisoning? Death by gunshot and hanging and gas chamber are so awful as to be considered cruel and unusual punishment when administered to convicted murderers. How can you expect innocent terminally ill people to use these? We treat dogs better. I think what you're really saying is that it's fine to force people to stay alive when they desperately want to die.

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7. 7. ZenaV 08:13 PM 10/15/08

   Clearly as a catholic Rainbow has decided it's ok to seek to enforce her theocratic mindset on everyone else. Who appointed you and your sinnin' catholics to dictate to other people when you don't have a clue what other people go thru, nor their personal understanding and personal relationship with GOD. I'm sick of seeing lay-people that don't even read their bibles playing GOD. There must be a special hell reserved for such people. GOD is of course a loving GOD, but maybe it is his will that their suffering be shortened. Our laws were not meant to be a subsititute for GOD. YOU cannot sacrifice yourself to save someone else. Only Christ had that power. What if you're wrong about what GOD wants for a particular people? Christ came to cut out the middle-men like you listen to...it's religious intolerance as far as I can see. There are a lot of people out there who don't even believe in GOD. Are you trying to make them hate him even more? There will be safeguards put in place, I assume. People are dying and those who want to force people to obey their whims instead of GOD by quibbling about the timing. It's enhumane. Maybe it's GOOD that the electoral votes are the ones who determine the presidency and NOT the ignorant masses....though, I admit, it's hard to tell the differences these days....

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8. 8. Jarhead 10:58 PM 10/15/08

   I belive that I am a free person. Not owned by the state. Therefore if I choose to die, let me. If you are a free person, it is your right to assist me or not as you decide. If God exists it will selltle the the pro's and con's as it wills. Either way stand out of my way - if I am not harming you.

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