Department of Health reports 16 percent increase in 'death with dignity'

BY Ursula Reutin  on May 2, 2012 @ 6:25 pm (Updated: 7:03 am - 5/3/12 )

At least 70 people died in Washington last year after requesting and taking a lethal prescription through Washington's Death with Dignity law, the Department of Health reported Wednesday.

The Health Department reports 103 people who were terminally ill got lethal doses of medication last year, under the state's Death with Dignity Act. That's up 16 percent from the year before.

The Washington State Department of Health says nearly 80 percent of the patients were dying from cancer, most of them lived west of the Cascades, and they were between 41 and 101 years old.

"We also learned that 93 percent of them died at home and 83 percent were enrolled in some kind of hospice care at the time of their death," says Health Department spokesman Donn Moyer.

Of the 103 people who got lethal doses of prescription medication last year, 94 are known to have died. Seventy died after taking the medication.

Many of the patients told their doctors they were worried about a loss of autonomy and that was their reason for taking part.

The Death with Dignity Act passed in 2009 and since then, 255 terminally ill adults have received medication in Washington. The Health Department collects the information and releases an annual report.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ursula Reutin, KIRO Radio Reporter
Ursula Reutin is the news anchor for The Dori Monson Show and has worked nearly every position in the KIRO Radio newsroom since her arrival in 1988.
More Local News
Top Stories

  • Heartstopping
    Daredevils post breathtaking pictures atop Seattle landmarks

  • Snowy Passes
    Escape cold Seattle; go skiing at Crystal Mountain

  • Dirty Wars
    Director Jeremy Scahill says Obama hasn't been fighting a clean war
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (1)


  • Add A Comment

  • longwayhome wrote...
    Must make the health care companies mad
    May 2, 2012 7:30 pm
    They want to keep these people alive so they can prescribe medications and give advice and make a lot of $ in the process. republicans are probably against this Death with Dignity act because it cuts into their dividends with the health care companies. Someday, hopefully sooner than later, the republicans will realize that they have been wrong on a lot of things, namely the health care reform. They have NO plan to substitute Obama's proposal, and don't intend to create one because of the money they make off of the lobbyists and health care companies. Health care is out of control, thanks to the republicans.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }