Does Hospice Allow Physician-Assisted Dying?
A few states have "Death with Dignity” laws on the books. As of 2019, physician-assisted dying (PAD) is allowed in Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. It has also been mandated by a court ruling in Montana and California.
Individuals must have a terminal illness and prognosis of less than 6 months to live. In states where PAD is legal, terminally ill adult state residents can voluntarily request and receive a prescription medication so they can die in a peaceful, humane manner in a place and time of their choosing.
A person must be a legal state resident to qualify for this assistance. A person cannot simply go to one of these states and request physician-assisted dying.
A person does NOT have to be in Hospice care, or in any other kind of care institution like a hospital or nursing home, to exercise their right to seek physician-assisted dying.
Not all physicians, even in states where it is allowed, are willing to empower a person to make this choice. However, in these states there are organizations that will help a person who qualifies under the law to find a compassionate physician to help them carry out their wishes.
Hospice provides a range of end-of-life care options, so even in those states that allow physician-assisted dying, Hospice patients have a range of choices. Hospice caregivers from the physician-assisted dying states report that it is not unusual for a patient to change their mind about exercising this right either before or after entering Hospice care. Even patients with a terminal illness who have given up on life sometimes find a reason to want to continue to live as long as possible.
In those states that allow "Death with Dignity”, this choice can be made legally and with assistance, and without any legal consequences for those who participate.
Nothing in life is more of a personal choice than the decision to live every day that is given to us. Or to decide that the time has come for one’s life to end.
