I am trying to get a discussion of the Washington (the state) I-1000 re. death with dignity law.

[rhett o rick]

I can't seem to get much interest in the Washington forum.

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=184&topic_id=14979&mesg_id=14979

I know we have a lot to think about with the country about to go bankrupt, but maybe someone will want to weigh in on this issue.

[central scrutinizer]

1. Oregon's law has worked as intended

There should be lots of available articles and statistics on the web. It has ceased to be an issue here.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

2. And it's a big reason

why I live here in Oregon and plan on dying here too!

[central scrutinizer]

3. OK, I'll bite - what does your user name mean?

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

5. Mountain of Ants

n/t

[Beregond2]

4. This WA resident is all for it, but I kind of wish

it weren't on the ballot. It will stir-up all the RW shitheads at a time when we really need them to stay home.

[rhett o rick]

6. We can't live our lives hoping the right wing shit heads stay home.

The problem with a democracy is that the shit heads get to vote. If enough of them fuck up the country, that's democracy.

[Sebastian Doyle]

8. The right wing shitheads will be there anyway.

They want to make sure Dino gets away with stealing the election this time. And they're probably all Moosealini fans too. :scared:

[Arugula Latte]

9. It passed pretty resoundingly here, and I bet it will in our sister state, as well!

:toast:

I wouldn't worry about the wingnuts. They are a minority on this issue.

[Beregond2]

13. True, now that Palin is part of their ticket,

any hope of them staying home is gone anyway.

[KamaAina]

14. Resoundingly?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Death_with_Dignity_Act

The measure was narrowly approved in the November 8, 1994 general election. 627,980 votes (51.3%) were cast in favor, 596,018 votes (48.7%) against.

A subsequent attempt to repeal it did fail more resoundingly, 40%-60%.

[Arugula Latte]

16. Okay, I guess I was thinking of the repeal vote.

But, still, it has become quite popular here.

[Bigmack]

7. Hard to get discussion on issues like this.

There are people who believe that people - especially other people - should suffer as much as possible on this earth because god wills it, and that suffering is redemptive.

On the other hand there are people who believe they should control their own lives - and deaths - as much as possible, and that suffering is bullshit.

[rhett o rick]

11. What gets to me the most is that some how these people think it is

fine with God if we extend peoples lives but not let them die.

[Arugula Latte]

10. Having that law on the books in my state gives me peace of mind.

I hope all other states adopt something similar.

[rhett o rick]

12. I understand. I may have to move back to Oregon. I was raised in Portland. nm

[KamaAina]

15. A contrarian view is here

http://noassistedsuicide.com

Note that opposition to assisted suicide comes not only from wingnuts, but from across the spectrum, notably the disability community.

Who Opposes this law
I-1000 is not supported by those who work most closely with the dying. The Washington State Medical Association (the state affiliate of the AMA), the Washington Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and many other health care groups oppose I-1000.

I-1000 is opposed by disability advocacy organizations. National and local disability rights organizations oppose Initiative 1000, including: American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT); American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD); Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL); Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF); Justice for All (JFA); National Council on Disability (NCD); National Council on Independent Living (NCIL); National Spinal Cord Injury Association; Not Dead Yet (NDY); TASH; World Association of Persons with Disabilities (WAPD); World Institute on Disability (WID).

And I-1000 is opposed by prominent persons of both political parties.

Why Are Persons with Disabilities Opposing this law?
Society often dismisses the value and quality of the lives of people with disabilities, making many disabled people vulnerable to pressure and manipulation.

People with new disabilities often feel despondent and even suicidal. But over time they typically find satisfaction in their lives. Working through this initial despair usually takes far longer than the brief two-week waiting period in both Washington’s Initiative 1000 and Oregon’s assisted suicide law. In that critical early stage, many disabled people could easily take this irrevocable fatal step.

Dr. Peter Saunders, of Care Not Killing Alliance in the UK, reflecting on international disability community opposition to assisted suicide laws like I-1000, says, "We don’t need assisted dying. We want assisted living."

Why Are Low-Income and Minorities Opposing this law?
Under I-1000 an ill and vulnerable person could be pressured to 'choose' a fatal drug overdose rather than be given the health care and support they need. No one wants to be a financial burden; mixing I-1000 with our current unequal and expensive healthcare system would be deadly.

[rhett o rick]

17. This is a load of crap. But thanks for posting. There wasn't one good reason in your post

for opposing this law. If you are afraid of "pressure and manipulation" then make the law so there won't be any. Or get your church to help.

"People with new disabilities often feel despondent and even suicidal. But over time they typically find satisfaction in their lives. " This law has nothing to do with this group of people. Why is this even mentioned? This is about people with terminal illnesses, not disabilities, choosing for themselves. That means not letting society or the Catholic Church choose for them. Choosing for themselves. How hard is that to understand. If you don't choose you don't have to do anything.

If society does in fact "dismisses the value and quality of the lives of people with disabilities" then attack that problem.

This is about people getting to determine for themselves. I resent the fact that there are people out there, including the Catholic Church that thinks they can make this decision for me. How arrogant.

This isn't about disabled persons killing themselves. This is about people with terminal illnesses not wanting to suffer. Why do you, why does the Catholic Church want people to suffer?