Compassion & Choices of Oregon

Compassion & Choices of Oregon is a US nonprofit organization launched in 1998 as a provider of services for persons eligible for the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, and their physicians and pharmacists. The organization recruits and trains volunteers to provide legal and medical consultation and direct service at no cost. It is a state affiliate of Compassion & Choices, and provides education, information and support to approximately 1000 Oregonians each year.

Provisions for eligibility to use the Oregon Death with Dignity Act^[1] include,

• The person must be an adult (18 or over) resident of the state of Oregon.
• The person must be mentally competent, verified by two physicians (or referred to a mental health evaluation).
• The person must be terminally ill with less than 6 months to live, verified by two physicians.
• The person must make voluntary requests, without coercion, verified by two physicians.
• The person must be informed of all other options, including palliative and hospice care.
• There is a 15 day waiting period between the first oral request and a written request.
• There is a 48 hour waiting period between the written request and the writing of the prescription.
• The written request must be signed by two independent witnesses, at least one of whom is not related to the person or employed by the health care facility.
• The person is encouraged to discuss with family (not required because of confidentiality laws).
• The person may change their mind at any time and rescind the request.
• The attending physician may sign their patient's death certificate which must list the underlying terminal disease as the cause of death.

The 2011 Sundance Film Festival winner, How to Die in Oregon, documents the work of Compassion & Choices of Oregon^[2] .

See Also

• Oregon Death with Dignity Act
• Compassion & Choices
• Gonzales v. Oregon

References

1. ^ Anon. "Death with Dignity Act". State of Oregon. http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/127.html. Retrieved 16 April 2011. 
2. ^ Barnes, Brook (24 January 2011). ""Unflinching End-of-Life Moments"". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/movies/25sundance.html. Retrieved 16 April 2011. 

External links

• Compassion & Choices of Oregon
• State of Oregon - Death with Dignity Act