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45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, January 24, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 10, 2004 Doctor-assisted suicides climb slightly By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune Forty-two people used physician-assisted suicide in 2003, compared with 38 who did so in 2002, according to the sixth annual report on Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act. "This is an increase, but the number remains small in comparison to the average 31,000 Oregon deaths every year," said Dr. Mel Kohn, state epidemiologist, in a statement from the Department of Human Services. "Overall, about one-seventh of one percent of Oregonians die from taking legally prescribed medication." The report was released today by DHS, which analyzes the demographics and characteristics of the people who took lethal medications. DHS is legally required to collect information about assisted suicide under terms of the Death with Dignity Act. Voters originally approved assisted suicide in 1994, and reaffirmed their convictions in 1997 when the Legislature sent the issue back for reconsideration. The number of prescriptions written for lethal medication rose to 67 in 2003, up slightly from 58 in 2002. Kohn said the number of prescriptions has increased every year since 1998, when just 24 prescriptions were written. Advertisement Three main reasons surfaced among the patients who chose to end their lives: loss of autonomy; their decreasing ability to participate in activities that make life enjoyable; and their loss of personal dignity. Patients who chose suicide in 2003 were more likely to be younger, highly educated and live west of the Cascades when compared to other Oregonians dying of the same underlying illnesses. Rates of death from lethal medication were highest among patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), HIV/AIDS and cancer. Prescribing physicians were less likely to be present at the time the patient took lethal medication than during previous years. Just 29 percent of patients had a physician present when they died during 2003, compared to an average of 47 percent for the years 1998 to 2002. Among patients who did not have a physician present, 67 percent took lethal drugs in the presence of another health care provider or a volunteer. Half of patients were unconscious within four minutes of ingestion and died within 20 minutes. Time from ingestion to death ranged from five minutes to 48 hours. Complications were reported in three instances. All three involved regurgitation; none involved seizures. The proportion of patients with a psychological evaluation has fallen from 31 percent in 1998 to 5 percent in 2003. The law requires that if the attending or consulting physician believes the patient may be suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgment, he or she must be referred for counseling. Kohn said his agency’s report should not be construed as a statement for or against assisted suicide. "We regard our reporting role as a neutral one," Kohn said. "It is critical that we have accurate data so that informed ethical, legal and medical decisions can be made." Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers