In the first 10 months of Washington's Death with Dignity Act, allowing doctors to prescribe lethal medication for terminally ill patients, 63 patients filled the prescription for the lethal dose. But only 36 died as a result of taking the medication, according to a report released Thursday by the state Department of Health. The prescribing physicians report that of those who received the medication and died (36) it was primarily because of "concern" - in other words - of FEAR of what might happen. Fear is not a death sentence and patients should be referred for psychiatric treatment. The assisted suicide movement plays on fears, and death is the solution they offer. Fear is not medical care, and physicians who allow fear to dictate the death of a patient, betray the both the patient and the ethical standards of their profession.
Friday, March 5, is the first anniversary of the legalization of the Death with Dignity Act in Washington State.
There will be an hour vigil outside the University of Washington Medical Center (which allows assisted suicide in its facilities), along the sidewalk at the corner of Montlake Blvd. NE and NE Pacific Street, starting at 12 noon.
There was a similar event last year on the day the law took effect, March 5, 2009. It will be a silent vigil, no speakers. All are invited to attend.
Please pass this on to other people you think would be interested.
ABANDONING PATIENTS TO THEIR FEARS IS NOT MEDICAL CARE