Originally Posted By Lady Starlight Wash. state has first death under new suicide law OLYMPIA, Wash. – A 66-year-old woman with terminal cancer has become the first person to die under Washington state's new assisted suicide law, an advocacy group said Friday. Linda Fleming, of Sequim, died Thursday night after taking drugs prescribed under the "Death with Dignity" law that took effect in March, said Compassion & Choices of Washington. The organization said Fleming was diagnosed last month with advanced pancreatic cancer. She would have had to have been diagnosed by two doctors as terminal in order to qualify for assisted suicide. The group said Fleming died at home with her family, her dog and her physician at her bedside. "The pain became unbearable, and it was only going to get worse," Fleming said in a statement released by the organization. A physician prescribed the medication, but under the law, patients must administer the drugs themselves. The new law was approved in November with nearly 60 percent of the vote. It is based on a 1997 Oregon measure, under which about 400 people have ended their lives. Under both states' laws, physicians and pharmacists are not required to write or fill lethal prescriptions if they are opposed to the law. Some hospitals have opted out of the law, which precludes their doctors from participating on hospital property. In December, a Montana district judge ruled that doctor-assisted suicides are legal. That decision, based on an individual lawsuit rather than a state law or voter initiative, is before the Montana Supreme Court. In Washington, any patient requesting fatal medication must be at least 18, declared competent and be a state resident. Two doctors would have to certify that the patient has a terminal condition and six months or less to live. The patient must also make two oral requests, 15 days apart, and make a written request witnessed by two people. As of Friday, the state Department of Health has received six forms from pharmacists saying they have dispensed the life-ending drugs. The state has also received five forms from an individual declaring a request for medication to "end my life in a humane and dignified manner." The Health Department will report annually on the ages, genders and illnesses of the people who file forms with the state, but the individual forms people complete are exempt from state open records laws. Well it's about time. I hope California get the new suicide law too. There are somany people suffering that just want to die with dignity.
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight Wow! All kinds of opionions about everything else but no one wants to touch the whole assisted suicide topic. Now that's interesting.
Originally Posted By jdub Well, I used to bring my depressed friend McDonald's "food" for three-and-a-half years until she died. Does that count?
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight well, the whole assisted suicide thing is such an interesting topic that I was curious to see hwopeople felt about it. It's like the whole religion thing, some will believe init and some won't.I figured people would share thier thoughts.
Originally Posted By Labuda I'm all for asszisted suicide, especially if the laws around it are as stringent as those in Washington appear to be.
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL Its about time!!! I've always felt we treat our sick and injured pets better and with more compassion than we do our terminally ill loved ones who suffer needlessly. I am 100,000% for this and all states should follow.
Originally Posted By -em I also am in complete agreement... I have zero issues as long as its done and treated with the respect it requires... I've always found it ironic we can DNR ourselves legally but yet we can't say "when" legally... -em
Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer I've always had nothing but respect for Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the compassion he showed and his willingness to take the consequences for what he believed it. >>I've always felt we treat our sick and injured pets better and with more compassion than we do our terminally ill loved ones who suffer needlessly<< TMICHAEL, well said.
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight ^Yes so true TMICHAEL, very well said. I am surprised however that someone hasn't said anything on the fact that it is afterall, suicide. I thought fosure someone whould chime in and bring up the whole religion thing into , sine WE seems to be filled with GOD threads lately.( I'm NOT trying to strir the mustard pot either, just stateing a fact) I truely believe that if one is in dire pain/ terminal illness and in no hope of recovery that they should be able to die with dignity. It's so good to see so many agreeing on this issue.
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight fosure- for sure. you all know I stink at spelling and need to slap my typist now and then.
Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer ^^you do way better than me! ...and I had been thinking about the dignity part too. I would much rather have my family remember my last days with dignity and courage. If a person is terminal and in that much pain, it would be nice to know that they at least had a choice.
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin I've thought about this quite a bit. I think if extraordinary means are the only thing keeping a person alive, they should be given a choice...and I don't think they should have to be terminal...(cue the stone throwing) if the treatment is more than they feel they can endure, why must they endure it?
Originally Posted By -em >> I think if extraordinary means are the only thing keeping a person alive, they should be given a choice..<< Actually if its extreme measures then people do have a choice. Its when its stable, painful and otherwise miserable, people don't. -em
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Its when its stable, painful and otherwise miserable, people don't.*** Good point.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle >>If a person is terminal and in that much pain, it would be nice to know that they at least had a choice.<< I agree with this. My uncle died of throat cancer. He was sick for nearly 2 years and spent months upon months in a hospital (in an unfamiliar town away from his kids, since he lived in a small town that didn't have the facilities). We knew from early on in his diagnosis that it would eventually be fatal, and when he died it was more of a relief than a sadness, because we didn't want to see him suffer anymore. If that were my father, I'd much rather he have some degree of choice.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Isn't suicide illegal in most states? I thought I had heard that if you attempted to commit suicide and failed, you would be taken to an institution to be taken care of, followed by a trip to prision for attempting murder. I guess that could be one of those laws that varies by state, but I feel like the defination of murder should be pretty universal. I pretty much agree with that view of suicide, and I am very against the idea of assisted suicide. Obviously I'm in the minority on this one (at least here in WE, or in Washington or Oregon), but I just can't fathom being one of the doctors or pharmacists, or even family members of someone who would prefer this option. The Washington law says that they have to diagnose the patient as only having 6 months left, which makes me wonder why they couldn't wait that long. Yes, I realize it must be a horribly depressing and difficult situation, but I still can't imagine how it would be the best situation. Doctors are often wrong about their assessments, or they could be able to perform some surgery to make it better. Obviously it is different when you're the one involved with the situation, but I really have a hard time imagining a situation where I would want to have an assisted suicide, or even encourage anyone else to get one.
Originally Posted By mele Aren't you pretty young, Ferret? I think it's easier to say "meh, wait 6 months" when you're young...
Originally Posted By Mr X ***followed by a trip to prision for attempting murder*** I have never, ever heard of anyone going to jail for attempting suicide. Got proof?
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I really have a hard time imagining a situation where I would want to have an assisted suicide, or even encourage anyone else to get one*** That's certainly within your rights, nobody is forcing you to do so. But try this experiment. Go out and buy a bunch of meat, eggs, and milk. Put it out in the sun til it rots. Then cook some and eat it. Give yourself a nice case of food poisoning. Be sure to eat more if you feel yourself recovering slightly. If you can't keep down even one more bite, you've done the trick. Then do the same thing every day for two weeks. And come back and tell us all that noone should have any problem dealing with that for six months (or watching someone you love deal with it), knowing full well that you'll never get better. Of course, I'm not really telling you to do that. But it's so easy to be blase about this kind of stuff until you find yourself in that situation.
