Index
Washington Death with Dignity Act
Summary
Washington allows terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to request and self-administer lethal medication to end their lives in a humane and dignified manner.
Rights & Rules
- 01.You must be an adult resident of Washington, mentally competent, and diagnosed with a terminal illness that will lead to death within six months.
- 02.Two different physicians must confirm your diagnosis and verify that you are competent and acting voluntarily.
- 03.You must make one written request (witnessed by two people) and two oral requests to your doctor, separated by at least 15 days.
- 04.You MUST self-administer the medication; a doctor or family member cannot give it to you.
Penalties
- 01.Coercing a patient to request medication or forging a request is a Class A felony. Doctors have the absolute right to refuse to participate for moral or religious reasons.
Verified Citations
Washington Revised Code Chapter 70.245
Source"An adult who is competent, is a resident of Washington state, and has been determined by the attending physician and consulting physician to be suffering from a terminal disease, and who has voluntarily expressed his or her wish to die, may make a written request for medication..."