Washington state woman 1st death under suicide law
Washington state woman 1st death under suicide law
Linda Fleming, 66, was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer and became the first person to kill herself under Washington state's new assisted suicide law, known as "death with dignity," according to a story from The Associated Press (AP).1
"I am a very spiritual person, and it was very important to me to be conscious, clear-minded and alert at the time of my death," she said in a released statement. "The powerful pain medications were making it difficult to maintain the state of mind I wanted to have at my death. And I knew I would have to increase them."
With family members, her physician, and her dog at her side, Fleming took a deadly dose of prescription barbiturates and died May 21 at her home in Sequim, WA. Compassion & Choices of Washington, an advocacy group that aids people who seek to use the law, announced her death.
Washington was the second state to have an assisted suicide law approved by voters. A law was approved by a vote in Oregon in 1997. Since then, about 400 people have used the law to end their lives in that state.
Montana decision before state supreme court
A district judge in Montana ruled that doctor-assisted suicides are legal in that state in December. That decision was based on an individual lawsuit rather, and it is before the Montana Supreme Court. Doctors in Montana are allowed to write prescriptions for life-ending drugs pending the appeal, according to AP. However, it's unknown whether any physicians have done so, the AP said.
The Washington law requires that any patient requesting fatal medication must be at least 18 years old, must be declared mentally competent, and must be a resident of the state. Also, two physicians must certify that the patient has a terminal condition and has six months or less to live, and the patient must make two oral requests 15 days apart, plus a written request that is witnessed by two people. Patients must administer the drugs themselves.
Doctors and pharmacists in Washington and Oregon are not required to write or fill lethal prescriptions if they oppose the law. Some hospitals have opted out, which means their doctors cannot participate on hospital property, according to AP.
Reference
1. La Corte R. Wash. state woman 1st death under new suicide law. The Associated Press. May 24, 2009. Accessed at hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ASSISTED_SUICIDE? SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-05-24-14-41-56.
Need More Information?
For more information on assisted suicide, contact:
Compassion & Choices of Washington. Web: www.candcofwa.org.
Center for Health Statistics, Death with Dignity Act. Web: www.doh.wa.gov/dwda/formsreceived.htm.
Linda Fleming, 66, was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer and became the first person to kill herself under Washington state's new assisted suicide law, known as "death with dignity," according to a story from The Associated Press (AP).Subscribe Now for Access
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