Judging the dying: Oregon's experience..Editorial

The "death with dignity" ballot measure promoted by former Gov. Booth Gardner deserves public support.

Assisted suicide for the terminally ill is humane and, as Oregon has demonstrated, can be administered in a civilized way. It provides a choice that is actually taken by fewer than two dying people per thousand, but for them it solves a terrible problem. The people who used Oregon's law in 2006 — 46 did so — were very ill. Forty had terminal cancer and most of the rest had Lou Gehrig's disease. They were people who were losing control over their motions and bodily functions; some of them were in great pain. They were not ending their lives on a whim.

Having the option of taking one's life is a comfort even to some who never do it. Here are Oregon's figures. In 2006, 35 people ordered a lethal dose of drugs and used them. Another 11 used drugs they had received before 2006. That's the 46. Another 19 died of their diseases even though they had the drugs and could have used them. Eleven had received the drugs and were still alive at the end of the year.

Many people who opposed Oregon's law feared that patients would be railroaded into suicide. The law has a number of safeguards to prevent this — waiting periods, doctors' signatures and witnesses who aren't named in the patient's will. It can't be used for non-adults, nonresidents, the nonterminal, the mentally impaired or anyone who objects.

There have been no big scandals under this law, which has been used by a small and steady number of patients. In a population of 3.7 million, of which 30,000 die each year, deaths under the law have been running at about 40 per year. That suggests a death rate for Washington of about 70 per year.

Gardner's law will not affect many people. But those it does affect, and their families, will be thankful for its passage.


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm..._deaded10.html
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Taken from ALS forum....thanks to BobbyB

Thanks ((Ms. Alffe)). Leave it to Oregon to be on the forefront of compassionate laws. Just a wonderful place to visit and live.

an update...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20081008...ressedpatients

I wan not sure exactly which thread to post this in. I think I will put it here. Maybe it will help someone who is struggling with end of life decisions. This is a big issue and is going to become bigger. Hospice is my passion and that of quite a few of my family members. I think there must be an answer, a 'middle road,' for people who face these issues. I want to relate this experience, I have had quite a few but will add just this one for now.
At one time I was a charge nurse in a Nursing Home on the private wing. We had a patient with a rare form of Parkinson's. When she was diagnosed and understood what she was facing, she put together a living will with her wishes. She did not have any family. But she did have a POA and a very good friend. She was intelligent, and middle aged. When she could not care for herself at home she made her home in this wing of the nursing home. I remember that she had a special computer set-up which was her life-line, so to speak. She was one special lady and we all loved her very much and did our best to care for her. With this particular type of Parkinson's, sorry I do not remember what it was, one deteriorates quite rapidly. In her living will she forbade any unusual or extreme measures to keep her alive beyond what would be considered a normal death process from the disease itself. She was terminal. I watched her deteriorate and loved her through it. She got to a point where she could not do anything for herself. She really could no longer feed herself. She would be in the hallway, in her wheelchair, with her tray in front of her, and I would watch her try to eat. As the months went by she became less and less able to accomplish it. It was difficult, but it was her wish that if she could no longer eat herself that she not be fed 'unnaturally.' She would allow us to feed her meals and give her Nutritious drinks to try and get some nourishment in her. But she became less and less able to swallow. It became apparent that this would become a natural process of the 'death journey' for her. And it was what she wanted. She lived her life as fully as she could. She was one of my favorite patients. And some people may wonder why she would not have a feeding tube, or why it was not forced upon her. This was her personal choice. And a natural result of her disease process. And we honored it. And we honored her. I felt privilaged to have known her and to have been able to be a part of her care. I quit working there before she passed away. But I knew it would not be long. She cried when I quit and so did her friend. Because they knew how much I cared and how hard I tried to make sure she got good care. I stayed in touch and was around when she passed away. She went quietly and peacefully. I hope this pays tribute to her.

Oh how beautiful Mistiis...have you considered getting back into the work? My sister is a Hospice worker and I so admire anyone who can sit with terminal people...not something I could do unless bawling my eyes out would help.

You continue to amaze me...I feel like I'm getting acquainted with a whole new person!

It ISN'T funny, but I did have to laugh.... How can one have a terminal
illness without some degree of depression?? I'll never figure "people" out.
I think it is a wonderful law. I wish I had known about it sooner

I sit here thinking, of the two.... my Dad's unexpected brutal suicide?
Or me having time with him, while he made HIS decision... us having
a chance to be together.. to say good-bye. If only.......

If you read all the stuff on the 4 corners page Nikki...they don't consider what they are doing as suicide..they are making a choice about their lifes'.

another bump

Thank you for the tribute to your friend.

About feeding tubes-for those of you not in the medical field or having experience with a family member who used one-I want to explain that they are not the benign things they are often made out out to be. Especially when used with someone who has poor overall health. I won't list the complications here, but there are many and they can cause a lot of "discomfort" (medical terminology for pain) for the patient. I would even say that I feel many times their use is abusive and inhumane.

They can be used successfully in many medical situations, but that does not always (or usually) transfer over to terminally ill people.

Oh GmaSue that is sooooo true. I wish more people understood that. People want to cling to life in a body that isn't 'working' anymore just to have their loved one's body around, and, unfortunately it puts their loved one in more pain, when they need to let go, and offer their loved one the freedom of release. It takes more love for the other person, and less focus on their own grief at losing them. A difficult thing for some to do, and difficult for them to understand, especially in a society where the medical field is still so focused on keeping everyone alive for as long as possible, no matter what their condition, or the quality of their life. I have seen it time and again. It is sad. That is why we need to have a living will in place, and make sure that those closest to us understand what we want and don't want at the end of this life, and the beginning of the next.