"In the states where similar 'Death with Dignity' laws exist, experience has shown that relatively few patients will request life-ending medication and not everyone who receives the medication will use it. However, being provided with this option is a source of great comfort…" Councilwoman Cheh said in a statement.
The bill includes many stipulations to help avoid abuse. For example, the patient cannot have more than six months to live, is a key element in the bill. Another major regulations that the patient must undergo a psychological diagnostic examination to make sure that they are not suffering from any mental disorders.
Oregon, which has had similar legislation in place since 1997, has had no issues of abuse of the law according to the councilwoman’s office.
Last year, Brittany Maynard, a teacher from California, chose to end her life under Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act, after she was diagnosed earlier in the year with an aggressive form of terminal brain cancer. Knowing that she could not legally end her life in California, she moved to Oregon so that she could take advantage of the neighboring state’s laws.
Maynard’s case caught the country’s attention after she launched an online video campaign to push for laws similar to Oregon’s to be passed nationwide.
"There is latitude to recognize that all life is valuable while also respecting the rights and decisions of others. When death is imminent, patients should be able to maintain their autonomy and exercise self-determination in their final days,” says Cheh to those who oppose the D.C. bill.
