The Washington State Department of Health yesterday released the 2014 annual report on the implementation of the Washington Death with Dignity Act. The figures underscore not only that only a small number of people use the law, but also that the Washington Death with Dignity Act continues to work flawlessly and provides ease of mind and relief to Washingtonians facing the end of life.
In 2014, 176 terminally ill Washington residents received a prescription under the Act to help hasten their death. This is a 2% increase over the previous year. Of patients with the prescription, 170 are known to have died: 126 after ingesting the medication and the rest either let the disease take its course or their status is unknown. Since 2008, when the Act went into effect, “725 adults with terminal illness have chosen to end their lives with a physician-prescribed lethal dose of medication,” according to the report.
Fifty-seven percent of participants in the Washington Death with Dignity Act were women. Ages ranged from 21 to 101 years. A vast majority, 92 percent, were Caucasian, and 75 percent had at least some post-secondary education.
Cancer was the underlying illness for 3 out of 4 participants, ALS contributed with 13 percent. Ninety-three percent of patients had some form of insurance.
The three chief end-of-life concerns for the Death with Dignity Act participants who have died were losing the ability to engage in activities that make life enjoyable, losing autonomy, and losing dignity. Ninety-two percent of patients died at home, five in a long-term care facility. Ninety-six percent of patients experienced no complications after ingesting the medication.
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