On March 5^th Initiative 1000 became law, making Washington the second state in the US to legalize assisted suicide. In Oregon, the only other state to legalize assisted suicide, more than 400 people have killed themselves using drugs prescribed by a physician.

Under the Washington law, healthcare providers are not required to participate in assisted suicide.  Many physicians and pharmacists are choosing to “opt out”, and not write or fill prescriptions.  Many healthcare facilities are also “opting out” and will not allow assisted suicide on their premises.

True Compassion Advocates, formerly the Coalition Against Assisted Suicide, planned two demonstrations supporting improved end of life care instead of assisted suicide.  All were welcomed to join them at the Department of Health on March 4th to protest the failure of the state to adopt rules and regulations that will prevent coercion and abuse. 

At the University of Washington on March 5th, compassion advocates protested the hospital's decision to prescribe and dispense intentionally lethal drug overdoses to vulnerable patients.

For more information on the supportive care demonstrations, visit True Compassion Advocates