This year marks the 25th anniversary of Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act, allowing patients to request — and physicians to prescribe — life-ending medications. However only eleven jurisdictions currently have such laws, and some people desiring a death with dignity don’t meet states’ strict criteria.
Talking About Death Won’t Kill You
By sharing some of the many stories I hear from my personal experiences hosting Death Cafés and volunteering with Final Exit Network, I hope attendees will be inspired to become more comfortable discussing this stigmatized topic.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act, allowing patients to request — and physicians to prescribe — life-ending medications. However only eleven jurisdictions currently have such laws, and some people desiring a death with dignity don’t meet states’ strict criteria.
There exists another potential option: for over 25 years Final Exit Network, which grew out of the Hemlock Society founded by Derek Humphry, has been supporting those who wish to hasten their own deaths. Learn more about this important organization, what it does and how it addresses the needs of potential clients who are not necessarily terminally ill.
Also discussed will be the importance (and shortcomings) of Advance Directives. Many communities are served only by religious-affiliated hospitals and nursing homes, which refuse to honor certain AD requests. In other cases, medical staff simply ignore the requests.
Even for those not looking to hasten their death, FEN serves as a strong advocate for members who need help getting their legally enforceable wishes honored.