The Act allows patients with a terminal illness who meet carefully defined conditions to get a lethal perscription. They can then self-administer the
perscription to end their lives.
This is not euthanasia.
The patient has to ask for the perscription twice over a 15 day period. The doctor who writes the perscription must consider the circumstances
and mental state of the patient including depression.
The Oregon Act has withstood legal challenges thus far.
Oregon has a population of just under 4 million. Since 2002, deaths under the Act have been stable at 40 to 50 per year.
Scotland needs a Death with Dignity Act modelled on the Oregon Law.
It is a basic human right for an individual to decide their own destiny.
There are circumstances where an individual decides that death is preferable to living with loss of dignity. That should be the individual's choice.
Scottish society must provide the best quality palliative care for those with a terminal illness.
Where this is not enough, we need Death with Dignity.
