The Oregonian (newspaper) has decided that it cannot endorse the assisted suicide initiative that Washington voters will be deciding on this November (WA Initiative 1000).
Despite the fact Oregon's law has been successful:
Despite the fact that Oregon's law has been popular:
The Oregonian choses not to endorse the Washington initiative:
Makes perfect sense.
Aid in dying, Oregon-style
"The Oregonian": Sunday, September 21, 2008
Despite the fact Oregon's law has been successful:
Ten years' experience with Oregon's one-of-a-kind Death With Dignity Act has shown that our deepest concerns were unfounded. Safeguards built into the law appear to be working.
On the plus side, the law has not created a tidal wave of assisted suicide since its enactment in 1997. Only 341 patients, 86 percent of them with terminal cancer, have died under its provisions. More than a third of those who have obtained lethal prescriptions never used them.
Despite the fact that Oregon's law has been popular:
It's also true that the law is popular, twice winning voter approval, and that vigorous public debate over it has led to much-improved end-of-life care in Oregon. The state is recognized today as the national leader in providing access to palliative medicine and pain treatment.
The Oregonian choses not to endorse the Washington initiative:
Still, even though Washington's initiative closely parallels Oregon's law, we won't be endorsing it.
Makes perfect sense.
Aid in dying, Oregon-style
"The Oregonian": Sunday, September 21, 2008
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