Washington Approves Of Suicide
Filed under: Legal Matters > Politik
While here in California voters decided to "eliminate the right" of gays to marry, in Washington, voters approved the right of terminally ill patients to choose assisted suicide.
On Tuesday, Washington became the second state to approve such a law. Oregon is the first. Similar laws failed in California, Michigan and Maine.
Initiative 1000 allows patients to choose a prescription for self-administered lethal medication. In order to receive the fatal treatment, patients must be at least 18, competent, and a Washington resident, and they must request the medication out loud twice, 15 days apart, in addition to a written request witnessed by two people, one of which cannot be connected to the patient in any way. A doctor must also certify that the patient indeed has less than 6 months to live.
I-1000 met with a wall of opposition during its campaign run, with more than a million dollars poured into it.
In the end, the state approved. The Initiative is intended to provide compassion and dignity to those who are often too ill to care for themselves.
Since Oregon approved of the "Death with Dignity" law in 1994, 340 patients have chosen to end their lives at their own hands. Many were sufferers of cancer who cited "loss of autonomy, loss of dignity and a decreasing ability to participate in activities they enjoyed" as their reasons.
Long-term care worker Mike Dingus voted "Yes," saying, "You don't get much choice coming in, so you should get some choice going out."
It's so depressing and rainy up there that not allowing suicide would be cruel and unusual punishment.
Does DEPRESSION count as a terminal illness????
i voted for it and i'm glad it passed.
Re: TorontoMike –
I respect your views, but as a non-Christian, I don't share them. My aunt chose "Catholic suicide' by refusing treatment all treatment except for comfort care, and I respect her choice, but it's not for me.
Re: andreinac13 –
It should (I've suffered with it for years)
first off fuck all you ppl who think washington is a shitty place to live. I'm glad it was approved although some of my friends disagree with the matter i couldn't be happier it was approved. My mother has been a nurse/teacher in Tacoma WA for 27+ years and this subject was important for both of us. Who should have to suffer thru a painfull death just to comfort their loved ones and thats the way it seems. No one should have power over what u do to your body and life. Some ppl may say it's playing god but wtf who deserves to suffer a slow agonizing death I know I wouldn't. Ppl may preach about dying naturaly but at the endd of the day we should have a choice.Thats why I"m glad it was approved! And don't hate on Washington especially if you haven't been there or matter of fact lived there. ALSO IT'S TOO BADD THERE ARE SOMANY IGNORANT PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE WITH THE ONE THEY LOVE!!!
i agree with this Initiative. My grandmas has had a heartatache, and strokes, and she can't take care of herself.. at all. she can't even get out of bed without help. and she can barely walk. i know if i was in that condition, i wouldn't want to be living anymore, it's not like i can get better, i've done lived my life. nothing else is going to be happening i really need to stick around for, im gunna die anyways. so i would just wanna die, without having to have someone i dont really know or even my own family have to wipe my butt. that's just losss of dignity. i agree.
i think this is sick! i live in washington and i can't believe that we actually passed something like this. what is happening 2 our country? we elected our 1st black president…kudos 4 us! but now we're legalizing assisted suicide and descriminating against gays because we think we're better than they r?
Re: Corkaknee –
Why is assisted suicide sick? Have you ever watched someone suffer (or suffered yourself)? If so, you might not feel the same. I've watched two people suffer through cancer to death, and after the first I decided I'd never put people I love through that suffering and the waiting for a phone call, jumping every time the phone rings, and cursing when it doesnt
that's a picture of oregon.