Question

Currently there are several states in the U.S that have enacted Death with Dignity Statutes. The first state to enact such a law was Oregon. These statutes were not enacted without controversy. For this week's written assignment, research one of the states that enacted a Death with Dignity statute. In your paper, summarize the applicable statute. Be sure to include information on how a patient would obtain the necessary means to end their life. For example, how do they qualify, what is the process to obtain the end of life medications, etc.? Share your thoughts about the Death with Dignity Statutes. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Answer 1

Death with Dignity laws allows qualified terminally-ill adults to voluntarily request and receive a prescription medication to hasten their death.

As of January 1, 2019, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington have death with dignity statutes. In Montana, physician-assisted dying has been legal by State Supreme Court ruling since 2009.

It is important to discuss your end-of-life wishes with your physician as early as possible. The benefit of doing this even if you are healthy is that if your physician does not share your values on this subject, you will have the chance to look for a willing physician while you still have the energy and time to do so. (It may take at least 3-4 weeks to go through the process under death with dignity laws from the first oral request to filling the prescription).

The best time for this conversation is when you provide your physician with a copy of your advance directive or discuss the use of the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form, a non-hospital medical order for people with serious illnesses. If you raise the issue after receiving a terminal diagnosis, your physician may be less receptive.

It is important to have this discussion with your physician in person. Do not ask their office staff, nurse, or assistant or leave a request on their voice mail. Above all, avoid demanding your physician’s assistance. Under death, with dignity laws, your physician is not required to participate and may have valid reasons for declining.

First, explain to your physician that you believe in being prepared, that you wish to avoid unnecessary suffering at the end of life, and that you would like to make sure that both of you would be on the same page in an end-of-life situation.

Death with dignity laws clearly outlines the process by which qualified individuals may obtain life-ending medications.

It is up to eligible patients and their doctors to implement these laws on an individual basis; there are no government programs that will provide assistance. However, the Department of Health in each state monitors the law. Compliance protects you, your family members, and your physician from criminal prosecution.

Participation in death with dignity laws is voluntary. No one is obligated to use these laws.

There are no lists of physicians who prescribe medications under physician-assisted dying laws.

The laws only stipulate the waiting period(s). Generally, it may take at least 3-4 weeks to go through the process from the first oral request to filling the prescription.

To legally obtain a prescription medication to end your life in a peaceful, humane, and dignified manner under physician-assisted dying statutes, you must first become a qualified patient, meeting a set of stringent requirements.

Terminally ill patients do not want to die but are facing imminent death, most after long efforts to cure their illness and heroic efforts to palliate symptoms. Despite excellent pain and symptom management, some find the dying process unbearable and want to achieve a peaceful death. Patients who can choose aid in dying do not consider that they are committing “suicide,” and find the suggestion that they are deeply offensive, stigmatizing and inaccurate. Many have publicly expressed that the term is hurtful and derogatory to them and their loved ones.

Other than suffering from the non-curable disease and who cannot able to live without the support and doesn't want to suffer from the debilitating disease it is better to go for a Death with dignity. Thus in my view, I agree with Death with Dignity.