The Requirements

The Death with Dignity Act is a citizen’s initiative that has allowed Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) in Oregon. The patients must be older than 18, be an Oregon resident, be capable of making and communicating health care decisions, have a terminal illness with less than six months to live and voluntarily request the prescriptions. The patient must make one written request and two verbal requests, separated by at least 15 days, to their physician. The physician must consult with another physician to confirm the terminal diagnosis and the poor prognosis, and then determine if the patient is capable of making the decision; refer the patient for counseling if there is any question regarding the patient’s ability to make decisions before the prescriptions are given. The physician must advise the patient on alternative treatment options such as hospice, palliative care, and pain control options. The physician as well as pharmacists must report all prescriptions written and filled to the Health Division (OSHD, 2010). Oregon State Health Department (OSHD) (2010) Physician Assisted Suicide Statistics, Retrieve from: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/docs/statute.pdf?ga=t.