Oregon's Death with Dignity Act

About this event

In 1997, Oregon became the first state to legalize medical aid in dying (MAID) by enacting the Death with Dignity Act. This Act allows terminally ill individuals to end their lives through the voluntary self-administration of lethal medications, expressly prescribed by a physician for that purpose. Although a large majority of Oregonians support MAID, few know the details of the law or how to access it. In this presentation, we'll provide an overview of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act. We'll share some background on how and when the law was enacted, discuss who is - and who is not - eligible, review the process and timelines for utilizing the law, and provide information on available resources. The presenters are volunteers with End of Life Choices Oregon, a 501c3 non profit organization. Importantly, we will not be discussing or debating the ethics of this law. The focus of this class is on the law and how individuals who qualify can access it. About the Presenters: Dawn Warnaca volunteers as an End Of Life Choices Oregon client advocate. She has volunteered both in Oregon and in Washington state. However, it was her mother, who in the late 1990s went door to door collecting signatures in support of Death With Dignity, who introduced her to an open discussion on how to prepare for the experience of death. As a volunteer, Dawn educates and seeks to make clear the legal requirements in Oregon and on how to use the Death With Dignity law without pressure or expectation. Questions? Contact lizg@deschuteslibrary.org

Description from dpl.libnet.info