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.
Update March 2010
In November 2008, the State of Washington voters passed a referendum to make Death with Dignity legal in Washington State.
This is significant since Washington State is directly north of Oregon. The Oregon experience was well publicised before the election and the Washington State
law is virtually identical to that of Oregon.
In December 2009, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that Death with Dignity was legal in the State of Montana.
There are now three states in America where Death with Dignity is legal. Oregon, Washington and Montana.
Margo McDonald has a bill before the Scottish Parliament to allow assisted suicide.
This has more to do with Margo McDonald's craving for the limelight than any serious attempt to address the problem in Scotland.
Margo should show some dignity herself and consider those who have a genuine need for Death with Dignity.
In June of 2006, my best friend used the Oregon Law to end his life. A couple of months before his death, he gave an interview to a journalist.
The article which resulted is
"The Doctors of Mercy" reproduced here
