OREGON
Assisted Suicide is Legal
2024—OR Report for 2023 released March 20. 560 patients received prescriptions for lethal drugs in 2023, up from 433 in 2022—about a 30% increase. During 2023, 367 people died, inclusive of 30 from prior years, a 21% increase. This large increase is likely multifactorial, including: dropping the residency requirement allows people from out-of-state to obtain lethal drugs; more people had the waiting period waived when they are most vulnerable with a high likelihood of brain dysfunction—making them more likely to rashly take lethal drugs when they are least capable of doing so; and more people were not in hospice care whereby holistic care tends to improve patients’ sense of well-being and make them less likely to request or take lethal drugs. The meager statistics shared in the OR Report demonstrate a devaluation of those with a disability of terminal illness. See Dr. Sharon Quick’s analysis of the OR 2023 Report.
2023—OR HB 2279 removes the residency requirement for individuals to obtain lethal drugs for assisted suicide. It was passed into law in July 2023. Quick_Testimony in Opposition to OR HB 2279, Senate Committee on Judiciary_Apr 19, 2023
2023—OR SB 891 would allow nonphysicians to prescribe lethal drugs without any physician consultation, shorten the waiting period to 48 hours, and remove the OR residency requirement. The bill was transferred from Judiciary Committee to the Health Committee and no action taken. Quick_ Testimony in Opposition to OR SB 891, Senate Committee on Judiciary_Mar 6, 2023
2022—In 2022, 109 patients (25% of lethal prescription recipients) were granted an exemption from the waiting period because they were predicted to die within the waiting period (15 days or less). It is difficult to predict when a patient will die, and specialists are frequently wrong in their prognosis (1). Because two of the most common organ dysfunctions associated with patients near death are declining brain function and the inability to swallow liquids (2), providing lethal drugs to patients close to death is not only unnecessary but unethical and contraindicated. Patient vulnerability increases as death approaches. Obtaining a valid consent from someone close to death is questionable at best and the likelihood of complications from trying to swallow large amounts of lethal drugs if the gastrointestinal system is shutting down and swallowing is compromised is great. Hastening death with lethal drugs is never urgent and never necessary, and there is no guarantee of a “peaceful death.” Lethal cocktails consist of a large volume of bitter-tasting and mouth-burning liquids, and patients must ice their mouths with popsicles and take anti-emetics just to get them down. Risks include nausea, vomiting, aspiration, seizures, and not dying. Palliative care can do far better. The stipulations legalized by OR SB 579 are dangerous and unethical and should be repealed. [by Sharon Quick, MD, MA (Bioethics)]
One study found that “even when patients are in the terminal phase and close to death, clinicians are not very good at predicting how much longer they will survive.” The study found palliative care specialists were wrong about 1/3 of the time. (White N, Reid F, Vickerstaff V, Harries P, Stone P. Specialist palliative medicine physicians and nurses accuracy at predicting imminent death (within 72 hours): a short report. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care 2020; 10(2): 209-12.)
This study of cancer patients found that wiithin 3 days of death, 90% of patients had dysphagia of liquids and 93% had a Palliative Performance Score (PPS) of ≤ 20%.1 A PPS score measures the level of ambulation, activity, self-care, oral intake, and level of consciousness, with 100% being normal. A score of 20% indicates the patient would be bed bound, cannot do any work, requires total care, has reduced to no oral intake, and is likely drowsy, confused, or in a coma. (Hui D, Dos Santos R, Chisholm G, et al. Clinical signs of impending death in cancer patients. The Oncologist 2014; 19(6): 681.)
2019—OR SB 579 removes the waiting period for patients expected to die before the expiration of the waiting period. It was passed into law in January 2020.
PCCEF_Decreased “Safeguards” in Oregon’s Assisted Suicide law – 2019 Oregon Legislature
Chandragiri, Psychiatrist_Testimony in Opposition to Oregon SB 579
Stevens_Testimony in Opposition to SB 579_Senate Health Care Committee
Toffler_Testimony in Opposition to OR SB 579
2006—Gonzales v. Oregon ends Federal Government challenges.
1997—Physician-assisted suicide (Oregon “Death with Dignity Act”) went into effect following Washington v. Glucksberg decision.
1994—Physician-assisted suicide (Oregon “Death with Dignity Act”) approved by voters.