The purpose of the DWDA is to assist persons diagnosed with terminal illness that will lead to death within six months. In spite of the minute number of persons who have chosen to act under this law, the law itself remains very controversial. Some people find the idea of physician assisted death repugnant to their senses while others ethically defend a sick person’s self-autonomy, support freedom of choice, and see no reason why any patient should be made to suffer a long and drawn out terminal illness.
Right to Die
The majority of patients choosing to die under the DWDA were between 55 and 84 years old, white, well educated and had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Their reasons for choosing the DWDA centered on end of life issues such as loss of self autonomy, marked decreases in the quality of life and loss of dignity. These issues were key points in their decision making process.
DWDA Requirements
The DWDA has many requirements in place to protect the rights of patients and physicians. They include the patient: (1) making two verbal requests -- separated by 15 days -- to the physician; (2) making a written request to the attending physician and the request is witnessed by two individuals who are not primary care givers or family members; (3) rescinding the verbal and written requests at any time, and; (4) must self administer the prescription. Further the physician must: (1) be Oregon-licensed; (2) make a patient diagnosis of terminal illness with six months or less to live, (3) certify the diagnosis by a consulting physician, who must also certify that the patient is mentally competent to make and communicate health care decisions and if either physician determines that the patient's judgment is impaired, the patient must be referred for a psychological examination; (4) inform the patient of alternatives, including palliative care, hospice and pain management options; and (5) request that the patient notify their next-of-kin of the prescription request.
Non-Egalitarian Legislation
The DWDA is far from being egalitarian in nature. All DWDA patients are required to have adequate health care insurance. Without proper insurance, the freedom of DWDA is an unlikely choice. First a patient needs a primary physician, then another physician for a second opinion and then if the physicians choose, a psychiatrist may be called to verify the mental state of the patient and then to okay this procedure. Figure on three doctors… the “right” doctors will be specialists in this arena. DWDA seriously racks up medical bills. Those interested in DWDA and who can actually afford it, are limited to the “privileged” few that have adequate health care provisions and insurance to see this costly arrangement through.
In the Spirit of Law
All Oregonians aren’t going to act within the DWDA law. Most Oregonians choose other end of life procedures, but it is in the spirit of the law, which supports self autonomy and freedom of choice that is of greater importance than the law itself. For those of us, who have lived in our bodies for 50 plus years and lived with our decisions in life, is it not a just act that we might choose our death as well? One does not have to agree with another person in order to support their right to choice. That said, respecting the right of choice is the honorable thing to do.
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