Passed as an initiative and signed into law in the fall of 2008, Washington state’s Death With Dignity Act allows terminally ill adults seeking to end their life to request lethal doses of medication from medical and osteopathic physicians.
However, organizers of an upcoming community panel note there are many hurdles to overcome for those in Clallam County to request and receive Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) service for themselves or for a loved one.
The League of Women Voters of Clallam County hosts a discussion with a panel of local providers and experts to offer information about end of life care and decision options in Clallam County, at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26, in the Little Theater at Peninsula College, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.
The event is free; however, donations to the league’s Education Fund will be accepted.
Also on the agenda are the legal and ethical concerns surrounding end-of-life decisions.
Many people, event organizers note, are unaware that religiously-owned and operated healthcare facilities — of which about 50 percent of Washington state are included — may not offer MAiD.
This reality is what prompted league members to provide this panel discussion as a community service, organizers said.
A representative from End of Life Washington will cover the criteria and steps necessary to access MAiD under the state’s Death with Dignity law. Then the panel of local experts and providers will address the differences between palliative care and hospice care, the goals of each, and the impact of ethical directives regarding access to MAiD.
Audience question-and-answer session will follow the discussion.
The panelists include:
• Dr. Paul Cunningham, CMO of Jamestown Family Health
• Dr. Joshua Jones, CPO of Olympic Medical Providers
• Cassa Sutherland, client services manager for End Of Life Washington
• Sandy Ulf, retired registered hospice nurse from OMC, instructor and end of life doula
The event will be moderated by Norma Turner, a former hospice and public health nurse.
In 2008, Washington state voters approved the state’s Death with Dignity law in Clallam County, about 61 percent of voters were in favor of the law allowing medical professionals to prescribe MAiD for those who meet specific criteria.
The League of Women Voters is a national nonpartisan, non-profit organization whose purpose is “to promote the informed and active participation of citizens in government.”
