Transcript Niemeyer – Oregon`s Death with Dignity Act

Oregon’s Death with
Dignity Act
Allows terminally ill Oregon residents to
obtain prescriptions for self-administered,
lethal medications from their physicians and
use it to hasten their deaths.
Physician-Assisted Suicide
vs. Euthanasia
How is the lethal medication administered?
 Self-administered by patient = physicianassisted suicide
 By third party = euthanasia
Who can participate
in the Act?
 Oregon residents
 Adults (18 years of age or older)
 Diagnosed with a terminal illness
• Prognosis of death within 6 months
 Able to make and communicate health care
decisions on own behalf
Number of Prescriptions Written vs.
Deaths From Physician Assisted
Suicide
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Deaths
Prescriptions
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Patient Demographics
•
•
•
•
•
Equally likely to be male or female
Median age 70 years
White
High school graduate or higher education
Divorced or never married
DWD Deaths by Underlying Illness
150
Cancer
100
ALS
Lower Resp.
50
HIV/AIDS
0
Other
Underlying Illness
Role of the Department of
Human Services
• Collect data on participation in the Act
• Compile an annual report
Vital Records Responsibilities
• Collect data
•
•
•
•
Design instruments
Create and maintain computer files
Data analysis
Report writing
State Registrar is
notified when:
 Lethal prescription is written
– Written request from patient
– Attending Physician Compliance Form
– Consulting Physician Compliance Form
– Psychiatric/Psychological Consultant’s Compliance
Form (optional)
• Medication is dispensed
– Pharmacy Dispensing Form
Additional Contacts
• Internal Data Collection Instruments
– DWDA Active File created
– Chronology and Death Certificate Extract Form
– Physician interview form
• Phone contact(s)
• Contacts to advocacy groups
Confidentiality
• Identifying information about participating
patients and physicians is confidential
• Every year, physician information is stripped
from the electronic files
• Only two documents are retained – all other
records are destroyed
The Future
• Ashcroft case may go on to U.S. Supreme
Court
• Other states will probably consider whether to
pass similar laws for themselves
Quick Facts - Staffing
• 1 Research Analyst (.25 FTE)
• 1 Medical Epidemiologist (.05 FTE)
• 1 Executive Support Specialist (.05 FTE)
Quick Facts - Funding
• Annual Budget - $0
• The Death with Dignity Act is an unfunded
mandate
• Est. cost per year in staff time - $18,850
Want more information?
Check our website:
http://www.dhs.state.or.us/
publichealth/chs/pas/pas.cfm
Contact Darcy Niemeyer:
– (503) 731-4023
– [email protected]