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POSTED: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009

FAQ on Death With Dignity Act

The state's new Death With Dignity Act allows doctors, pharmacies and other health-care providers to opt out, meaning they don't have to participate when the measure goes into effect March 5.

Here are some questions about the measure and its implementation.

Q: What does the new law do?

A: It allows terminally ill adults who have been told by their doctors that they have six months or less to live to ask for lethal medication.

Patients making the request must be competent, must ask twice verbally and again in writing, and must be able to administer the medication themselves. They can rescind their request at any time. They must live in Washington state.

Q: What kind of lethal medication will be prescribed?

A: The law, which voters approved in November as Initiative 1000, doesn't specify what medication will be used.

In Oregon, the first and only other state in the nation to have such a measure, most patients have received a prescription for an oral dose of a barbiturate, according to the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Q: How do I find out if my doctor will participate?

A: Ask your doctor, especially your primary-care physician.

"Doctors are taking this very seriously. They are going to be ready and expecting patients to ask them about this," said Dr. David Lynch, who is president of the Whatcom County Medical Society. "Patients should not feel hesitant to bring it up if it's on their mind."

Your question should trigger a discussion between you and your doctor about end-of-life issues and other alternatives, including hospice care and palliative care.

If you qualify under the provisions of the Death With Dignity Act, then you're eligible for hospice care, according to Robb Miller, executive director of Compassion & Choices of Washington.

The Seattle-based group advocates for patients who want to use the law to hasten their deaths as well as for other issues for the dying, including pain management.

"Every terminally ill client who works with Compassion & Choices of Washington - as well as anyone we work with who intends to use our new law - is strongly encouraged to utilize hospice, which we believe is an essential component of excellent end-of-life care," Miller said.

Q: How should I ask my doctor?

A: Be specific, Miller said.

Use words along the lines of: "If I become terminally ill and qualify for the Death With Dignity Act, would you be willing to write a prescription for life-ending medication under the terms of the act?"

Q: When should I ask?

A: "The time to do that is not when you have two months to live," Miller said. "The time to do it is now."

Q: Where can I get more information?

A: Your doctor should direct you to resources in the community and the state. Those may include the Whatcom County Medical Society and Compassion & Choices of Washington.