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Washington state voters need to be fully informed regarding Initiative-1000,( I-1000 ), a Physician-assisted Suicide ballot measure which is euphemistically known as “Death with Dignity”.

Who is behind 1-1000?

The proponents of I-1000 have been pushing for many years to legalize physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in this country. The names of their organizations have changed over the years. They have included Derek Humphry's “Hemlock Society”, “Death with Dignity”, “Compassion in Dying”, and “Compassion and Choices” organizations.

What are their goals?

The ultimate goals of these organizations are to legalize both physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. Fifteen to twenty years ago these organizations pushed for legalization of both physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. For those who are not clear regarding what those words mean, physician-assisted suicide is when the patient self-administers a lethal drug overdose that has been prescribed by a physician; euthanasia is the active causing of death of the patient by a physician by lethal injection or other means.

In 1991, Washington state voters were faced with Initiative-119 “Death with Dignity” ballot measure to legalize both physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in that state. Washington voters defeated that ballot measure 54% to 46%. Recognizing that “half a loaf is better than none”, Derek Humphry, head of the Hemlock Society, wrote in the Hemlock Quarterly, April 1992 (also reported in Humphry's book,” Lawful Exit”, Norris Lane Press, 1993, p. 83), “I believe the failure of the Washington (1991) and California (1988) proposals was due to the lack of sharp focus --- the combining of separate issues [physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia]. It may be much more prudent to approach these problems in a step-wise manner. When society has lived with this concept and begins to realize that life has not been demeaned by such a law, it may then be time to establish a law that would permit acts of euthanasia within set parameters.”

So in 1994, the voters of Oregon faced ballot measure #16, “Death with Dignity” that was authored by and sponsored by the Death with Dignity organization. Measure #16 purpose was to legalize physician-assisted suicide; euthanasia was specifically not included in that ballot measure. Oregon 's Measure #16 passed 51% to 49%, thus Oregon became the only state to have legalized physician-assisted suicide. After legal challenges, assisted suicide became operational in Oregon in 1998. From 1998 to 2007 there have been 341 deaths from physician-assisted suicide in Oregon .

Since 1994, the assisted-suicide and euthanasia proponents have failed in multiple attempts in many states to pass another physician-assisted suicide law. They call their campaign, “ Oregon plus One”; meaning one more state beyond Oregon to legalize assisted suicide. Last year, they identified the state of Washington as their target state for this year. The national Death with Dignity organization has funneled $1.5 million into the state to achieve their goal. This is the I-1000 campaign.

What are the methods and arguments of 1-1000 proponents?

Attempt to Neutralize the Medical Profession

In late 2007 there was a concerted campaign by Ballot Measure 1-1000 proponents to have the Washington State Medical Association take a neutral position regarding I-1000. That campaign failed, and the Washington State Medical Association actually strengthened their stated position in opposition of physician-assisted suicide and Ballot Measure I-1000. Portions of their statement of opposition were reported in article #1 of this series.

The Fox in the Chicken Coop

Compassion and Choices, the current name of the assisted suicide and euthanasia organization, is like the fox in the chicken coop; and the fox is reporting its version to the farmer regarding what is happening in the chicken coop. They authored and proclaim they are the stewards of Oregon 's physician-assisted suicide law. They report they have arranged and participated in at least 3/4ths of the Oregon assisted suicide cases. Their medical director reported she had participated directly or indirectly in more than 100 doctor-assisted suicides as of March 2005. A physician board member of this organization reported in 2006 that he had been involved with over forty such patients. The organization's executive director, an attorney, reported in September 2007 that he has attended more than three dozen assisted suicide deaths. He has been involved in preparing the lethal solution, prior to the poison being taken; he is not a doctor.

In 2006, this organization's attorneys asserted its influence in causing the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) to change to euphemistic language in referring to Oregon 's assisted suicide law. The increasingly limited information in the annual DHS reports of Oregon 's assisted suicides is another indication of this organization's influence. Information that is damaging to the “good public image” of Oregon 's assisted suicide law is hidden or glossed-over in the DHS reports.

Citizens should be concerned regarding the controlling influence of this death-oriented assisted suicide organization, and of its corruption of the practice of medicine and of end-of-life care.

Future articles in this series will provide more information regarding this vital issue of life & death.

To volunteer to help fight against physician-assisted suicide visit www.noassistedsuicide.com

Other websites: www.pccef.org ; www.internationaltaskforce.org