Compassion & Choices of Oregon
Encyclopedia
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 include,
The 2011 Sundance Film Festival
winner, How to Die in Oregon
, documents the work of Compassion & Choices of Oregon .
Compassion & Choices
Compassion & Choices is a nonprofit organization in the United States working to improve patients' rights and choices at the end of life...
, and provides education, information and support to approximately 1000 Oregonians each year.
Provisions for eligibility to use the Oregon Death with Dignity Act include,
- The person must be an adult (18 or over) resident of the state of OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. - 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
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
winner, How to Die in Oregon
How to Die in Oregon
How to Die in Oregon is a 2011 documentary film produced and directed by Peter Richardson. The film is set in the state of Oregon and covers the state's Death with Dignity Act that allows terminally ill patients to end their own life with medication prescribed by their physician .- Synopsis...
, documents the work of Compassion & Choices of Oregon .
See Also
- Oregon Death with Dignity Act
- Compassion & ChoicesCompassion & ChoicesCompassion & Choices is a nonprofit organization in the United States working to improve patients' rights and choices at the end of life...
- Gonzales v. OregonGonzales v. OregonGonzales v. Oregon, 546 U.S. 243 , was a decision by the United States Supreme Court, which ruled that the United States Attorney General could not enforce the federal Controlled Substances Act against physicians who prescribed drugs, in compliance with Oregon state law, for the assisted suicide of...