Compassion & Choices
Encyclopedia
Compassion & Choices is a nonprofit organization in the United States working to improve patients' rights and choices at the end of life. Its primary though not sole function is advocacy for and ensuring access to assisted suicide
With approximately 40,000 supporters and 60 chapters, it is the largest organization of its kind in the United States.
and illness-specific support groups; advice on adequate pain and symptom management; and information on safe, effective methods for aid in dying as an option of last resort.
, defeating the Bush administration challenge to Oregon's Death with Dignity Act in January 2006.
Through litigation, Compassion & Choices works for terminally ill patients' rights to receive pain and symptom management, to voluntarily stop life-sustaining treatments, to request and receive palliative sedation, and to choose aid in dying under state and federal constitutional protections.
, founded by Derek Humphry
in 1980; the original group was dedicated to "fighting for voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
to be made legal for terminally and hopelessly ill adults." Two choice-in-dying rights organizations emerged from the Hemlock Society, and were merged in 2005: Compassion in Dying and End-of-Life Choices The organization changed its name, according to Humphry, for reasons of "political correctness." Articles of Amendment were filed with the Colorado Secretary of State on October 29, 2004.
Compassion & Choices Action Network is the legislative advocacy arm of Compassion & Choices. The Action Network seeks to pass Oregon-style aid-in-dying legislation throughout the United States; laws that strengthen advance directives; and laws that mandate palliative care
training for health care providers.
. Fabian Bruskewitz
, Bishop of Lincoln
, Nebraska
, pointed out in 1996 that members of the organization incur automatic excommunication
, a judgment that was appealed to, and upheld by, the Vatican
During a 2008 ballot initiative campaign that would legalize doctor-assisted suicide in Washington state
, Compassion & Choices was accused by Seattle Post-Intelligencer
columnist John Connelly of engaging in "Catholic-baiting." Despite all of this, 47% of Catholic voters in Washington voted to approve the Death With Dignity Act.
Assisted suicide
Assisted suicide is the common term for actions by which an individual helps another person voluntarily bring about his or her own death. "Assistance" may mean providing one with the means to end one's own life, but may extend to other actions. It differs to euthanasia where another person ends...
With approximately 40,000 supporters and 60 chapters, it is the largest organization of its kind in the United States.
Terminally ill patient services
Compassion & Choices operates the End-of-Life Consultation program, which provides counselors for terminally ill patients and their families at no cost. Professional counselors and trained volunteers work by phone or in person to offer assistance in completing advance directives living wills; referrals to local services, including hospiceHospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
and illness-specific support groups; advice on adequate pain and symptom management; and information on safe, effective methods for aid in dying as an option of last resort.
Legal work
Compassion & Choices' legal advocacy team, which litigates patient cases related to ensuring adequate end-of-life care and choice, represented 16 terminally ill patient-plaintiffs at the U.S. Supreme Court in Gonzales v. OregonGonzales v. Oregon
Gonzales 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...
, defeating the Bush administration challenge to Oregon's Death with Dignity Act in January 2006.
Through litigation, Compassion & Choices works for terminally ill patients' rights to receive pain and symptom management, to voluntarily stop life-sustaining treatments, to request and receive palliative sedation, and to choose aid in dying under state and federal constitutional protections.
History and organization
Compassion & Choices is the successor to the Hemlock SocietyHemlock Society
The Hemlock Society USA was a national right-to-die organization founded in Santa Monica, California by Derek Humphry in 1980. Its primary missions included providing information to dying persons and supporting legislation permitting physician-assisted suicide. In 1992, following the publication of...
, founded by Derek Humphry
Derek Humphry
Derek Humphry is a British-born American journalist, author and principal founder in 1980 of the Hemlock Society USA and past president of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies, both of which support the notion of decriminalisation of voluntary euthanasia...
in 1980; the original group was dedicated to "fighting for voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
Assisted suicide
Assisted suicide is the common term for actions by which an individual helps another person voluntarily bring about his or her own death. "Assistance" may mean providing one with the means to end one's own life, but may extend to other actions. It differs to euthanasia where another person ends...
to be made legal for terminally and hopelessly ill adults." Two choice-in-dying rights organizations emerged from the Hemlock Society, and were merged in 2005: Compassion in Dying and End-of-Life Choices The organization changed its name, according to Humphry, for reasons of "political correctness." Articles of Amendment were filed with the Colorado Secretary of State on October 29, 2004.
Compassion & Choices Action Network is the legislative advocacy arm of Compassion & Choices. The Action Network seeks to pass Oregon-style aid-in-dying legislation throughout the United States; laws that strengthen advance directives; and laws that mandate palliative care
Palliative care
Palliative care is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients...
training for health care providers.
Controversy
The organization's work is at odds with the views of certain religious groups, notably the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Fabian Bruskewitz
Fabian Bruskewitz
Fabian Wendelin Bruskewitz is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska.-Early life and ministry:...
, Bishop of Lincoln
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln is a Roman Catholic diocese in Nebraska, and comprises the majority of the eastern and central portions of the state south of the Platte River. The episcopal see is in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was established on August 2, 1887, by Pope Leo XIII...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, pointed out in 1996 that members of the organization incur automatic excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
, a judgment that was appealed to, and upheld by, the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
During a 2008 ballot initiative campaign that would legalize doctor-assisted suicide in Washington state
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
, Compassion & Choices was accused by Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
columnist John Connelly of engaging in "Catholic-baiting." Despite all of this, 47% of Catholic voters in Washington voted to approve the Death With Dignity Act.