I-1000

[lithera]

If I am ever in a situation where I am in extreme amounts of pain every day and I am going to die, I'd like to be able to choose. I-1000 mirrors the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, which has been in place for over 10 years. The Oregon law was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and approved twice by voters there. All bolding below is mine.

Washington’s Death with Dignity safeguards:

1. The patient must be at least 18 years old
2. The patient must be a resident of the state of Washington
3. The patient must be terminally ill - not disabled, but diagnosed as terminally ill
4. The terminally ill patient must have 6 months or less to live, as verified by two physicians
5. Three requests for Death with Dignity must be made (two verbal and one written)
6. Two physicians must verify the mental competence of the terminally ill patient
7. The request must be made voluntarily, without coercion, as verified by two physicians
8. The terminally ill patient must be informed of all other options, including palliative care, pain management and hospice care
9. There is a 15 day waiting period between the first oral request and the written request
10. There is a 48 hour waiting period between the written request and the writing of the prescription
11. The terminally ill patient's written request must be independently witnessed, by two people, at least one of whom is not related to the patient or employed by the health care facility
12. The terminally ill patient is encouraged to discuss their decision with family (not required because of confidentiality laws)
13. Only the terminally ill patient may self-administer the medication
14. The patient may change their mind at any time

This, for me, is much like abortion. I don't expect to be in a position to need the choice. I have no idea what I would do, were I in that position. I would still like to be able to make the choice. My personal nightmare is to slowly over time, lose my ability to think. I'm not afraid of dying in pain but, Heaven forbid that's where I end up, I'd like to have the choice open to me.