‘Death with Dignity’ report: 63 applied in 2009

In the first year assisted suicide was legal in Washington, 63 people received prescriptions for lethal doses of medicine and 36 died after ingesting the medicine.

From a Department of Health release: “Of the 63 individuals who received lethal doses of prescription medication last year, 47 are known to have died. Thirty-six died after ingesting the medication. Those who died were between the ages of 48 and 95. More than 90 percent resided west of the Cascades. Most had terminal cancer and all were expected to die within six months.”

Here is the full report.

Tags: assisted suicide