A poll released by Lake Research today shows 67 percent of District of Columbia residents (51 percent strongly) support the right of terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to legally obtain medication to end their lives. The findings were released as the District City Council’s Health and Human Services Committee met for the first time on the issue.
“The numbers come as no surprise,” said Peg Sandeen, Executive Director of Death with Dignity National Center, an advocacy organization. “National polls, too, show overwhelming—and growing—support for letting people make their own decisions about how to live their last days.”
Introduced in January 2015 by Councilmember Mary Cheh, D-Ward 3, and endorsed by The Washington Post last month, the Death with Dignity Act of 2015 would allow adult D.C. residents who have had two doctors confirm a terminal diagnosis to fill a prescription medication to end their lives in a peaceful and dignified manner at the time and place of their choosing.
D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh (left) with our Executive Director Peg Sandeen at the press conference before today’s hearing in the Council
A virtually identical law has been in place in Oregon since 1997. In 18 years, no significant problems have arisen, and it has been used relatively sparingly—only 1,327 times, with fully a third of those who successfully obtain a prescription opting not to use it.
“The Oregon law has been implemented carefully and worked exactly as intended for over 17 years,” Sandeen said. “The time is right for D.C. to adopt this law.”
At Councilmember Cheh’s request, the National Center helped draft, promote, and support the bill. “We’re pleased to see our decades of work continue in this historic Council hearing, as is happening in dozens of statehouses across the country. This is an important step toward providing District residents with the autonomy, freedom and peace of mind that has been a godsend in Oregon, Washington, and Vermont.”
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D.C. Council to Consider Death with Dignity Act Following Health Committee Approval | The Washington Sun
[…] Two out of three (67%) of D.C. residents support the right of terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to legally obtain medication to end their lives, according to a July 2015 Lake Research poll. […]
Group Launches Video Ad Campaign to Promote D.C. Death with Dignity Act, Debunk Opponents' Claims Ahead of Council Vote
[…] Two out of three (67%) of D.C. residents support the right of terminally ill adults with fewer than six months to live to legally obtain medication to end their lives, according to a July 2015 Lake Research poll. […]
D.C. Council Approves Death with Dignity Act by Veto Proof Margin, reports Compassion & Choices
[…] Two out of three (67%) of D.C. residents support the right of terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to legally obtain medication to shorten their dying process, according to a July 2015 Lake Research poll. […]
Die with Dignity in DC | US Daily Review
[…] Two out of three (67%) of D.C. residents support the right of terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to legally obtain medication to shorten their dying process, according to a July 2015 Lake Research poll. […]
D.C. Council Approves Death with Dignity Act by Veto Proof Margin, Reports Compassion & Choices | MadisonsCPC
[…] Two out of three (67%) of D.C. residents support the right of terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to legally obtain medication to shorten their dying process, according to a July 2015 Lake Research poll. […]
D.C. Council Passes Death With Dignity Act on Second and Final Vote
[…] When the Council initially approved the bill on Nov. 1 by the same 11-2 margin, Mayor Muriel Bowser pledged, “I will not be issuing a veto.” According the D.C. legislative process, after it goes through the Office of the Mayor, the bill will be transmitted to Congress for review. Two-thirds of D.C. residents (67%) support giving terminally ill adults the option of medical aid in dying, according to a July 2015 Lake Research poll. […]
Colorado becomes sixth state to approve aid-in-dying law | Association of Health Care Journalists
[…] she will not veto the bill. Under D.C. law, the bill now goes to Congress for review. A 2015 poll found that two-thirds of D.C. residents (67 percent) support medical aid in […]
Sponsor of Bill to Repeal D.C. Medical Aid-in-Dying Law Fails Fact Check Test - Maryland Latino News
[…] with Dignity Act in February, after the D.C. Council passed it in November by an 11-2 vote. A 2015 Lake Research poll shows two-thirds of D.C. residents (67%) support the […]
Editorial: los intentos de derogar la Ley de Muerte con Dignidad son un abuso de poder | Latino California
[…] pesar de las encuestas, que muestran que dos tercios de los residentes de DC apoyan la ayuda médica al morir, el Comité de Apropiaciones de la Cámara aprobó una enmienda que revoca la ley Muerte con […]
Advocates Slam House for Passing Spending Bill with Rider to Repeal D.C. Medical Aid-in-Dying Law | Western Slope Watchdog
[…] Two-thirds of D.C. residents (67%) support medical aid in dying, according to a 2015 Lake Research poll. […]
Advocates Slam House for Passing Spending Bill with Rider to Repeal D.C. Medical Aid-in-Dying Law | Life Pulse Health
[…] Two-thirds of D.C. residents (67%) support medical aid in dying, according to a 2015 Lake Research poll. […]
End-of-Life Care Advocacy Group Praises Congressional Leaders for Protecting D.C. Medical Aid-in-Dying Law – m2 Press Releases
[…] “For seven long months, terminally ill D.C. residents like Mary Klein have been living on pins and needles worrying if Congress would take away this peaceful option to end unbearable suffering,” said Kim Callinan, CEO of Compassion & Choices. “Thankfully, congressional leaders made the right decision after hearing from their constituents, protected this law and honored the autonomy of the District to pass legislation that a supermajority of its Council members and resident support.” […]
End-of-Life Care Advocacy Group Praises Congressional Leaders for Protecting D.C. Medical Aid-in-Dying Law | forimmediaterelease.net
[…] “For seven long months, terminally ill D.C. residents like Mary Klein have been living on pins and needles worrying if Congress would take away this peaceful option to end unbearable suffering,” said Kim Callinan, CEO of Compassion & Choices. “Thankfully, congressional leaders made the right decision after hearing from their constituents, protected this law and honored the autonomy of the District to pass legislation that a supermajority of its Council members and resident support.” […]
End-of-Life Care Advocacy Group Praises Congressional Leaders for Protecting D.C. Medical Aid-in-Dying Law - Chicago Evening Post
[…] “For seven long months, terminally ill D.C. residents like Mary Klein have been living on pins and needles worrying if Congress would take away this peaceful option to end unbearable suffering,” said Kim Callinan, CEO of Compassion & Choices. “Thankfully, congressional leaders made the right decision after hearing from their constituents, protected this law and honored the autonomy of the District to pass legislation that a supermajority of its Council members and resident support.” […]
End-of-Life Care Advocacy Group Praises Congressional Leaders for Protecting D.C. Medical Aid-in-Dying Law – The Daily Telescope
[…] “For seven long months, terminally ill D.C. residents like Mary Klein have been living on pins and needles worrying if Congress would take away this peaceful option to end unbearable suffering,” said Kim Callinan, CEO of Compassion & Choices. “Thankfully, congressional leaders made the right decision after hearing from their constituents, protected this law and honored the autonomy of the District to pass legislation that a supermajority of its Council members and resident support.” […]
Congress may repeal assisted suicide in Washington, D.C. - Conservative Daily News
[…] 15, 2016, by a veto-proof 11-2 margin and the law went into effect on February 18, 2017. Polling shows two-thirds of D.C. residents (67%) support medical aid in […]
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