Washington Death with Dignity Act

Initiative 1000 (I-1000) of 2008 established the U.S. state of Washington's Death with Dignity Act (RCW 70.245^[1]), which legalizes medical aid in dying with certain restrictions. Passage of this initiative made Washington the second U.S. state to permit some terminally ill patients to determine the time of their own death. The effort was headed by former Governor Booth Gardner.

The measure was approved in the November 4, 2008 general election. 1,715,219 votes (57.82%) were cast in favor, 1,251,255 votes (42.18%) against. There were 2,966,474 votes total.^[2] 30 of the state's 39 counties voted in favor of the initiative.^[3]

In 1991, the similar initiative 119 was rejected by Washington voters by a margin of 54 percent to 46 percent. I-119 would have allowed doctors to prescribe a lethal dosage of medication, and also to administer it if the terminally ill patient could not self-administer.^[4] Unlike that initiative, I-1000 requires the patient to ingest the medication unassisted.^[5]

The initiative is based on Oregon Measure 16, which Oregon voters passed in 1994 but was not implemented until 1997. At that time, Oregon was the only other state to have enacted similar legislation.^[6] In 2013, Vermont became the third state to enact similar legislation.^[7] In 2016, California became the fourth state to enact similar legislation. All states on the West Coast now have similar legislation.^[8]

^ "Chapter 70.245 RCW, The Washington death with dignity act". Washington State Legislature.
^ "November 4, 2008 General Election". Washington Secretary of State. November 13, 2008.
^ "November 4, 2008 General Election". Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
^ "Right-to-die initiative making its way to state ballot". The Wenatchee World. July 14, 2008.
^ Ostrom, Carol M. (September 21, 2008). "Initiative 1000 would let patients get help ending their lives". The Seattle Times.
^ "State of Oregon: Oregon Department of Human Services". www.oregon.gov. ^{[dead link]}
^ "Vermont". Retrieved 15 July 2023.
^ Anderson, Cathie (9 June 2016). "Eight things you should know as California's new aid-in-dying law takes effect". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 15 July 2023. (subscription required)

[1] "Chapter 70.245 RCW, The Washington death with dignity act". Washington State Legislature.

[2] "November 4, 2008 General Election". Washington Secretary of State. November 13, 2008.

[3] "November 4, 2008 General Election". Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved 2009-03-17.

[4] "Right-to-die initiative making its way to state ballot". The Wenatchee World. July 14, 2008.

[5] Ostrom, Carol M. (September 21, 2008). "Initiative 1000 would let patients get help ending their lives". The Seattle Times.

[6] "State of Oregon: Oregon Department of Human Services". www.oregon.gov. ^{[dead link]}

[7] "Vermont". Retrieved 15 July 2023.

[8] Anderson, Cathie (9 June 2016). "Eight things you should know as California's new aid-in-dying law takes effect". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 15 July 2023. (subscription required)

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