Washington voters approved assisted suicide for terminally ill people with passage of the Death With Dignity Act in 2008, now 15 years ago, and its successful approval came with loud assurances of ethical safeguards and careful procedures.
Sarah Smith of Human Life of Washington tells AFN the updated law allows non-physicians in the state to assist a patient who is requesting life-ending medication to end his or her life. Those same non-physicians can also perform a psychiatric diagnosis.
“Statistics show only about 40% of highly qualified psychiatrists accurately diagnose depression the first time around,” Smith argues. “So how much more will the non-physicians not be able to accurately diagnose something like depression?”
The updated law, signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, also reduces the waiting time from 14 days to seven days, and now the lethal drugs can be mailed to an individual’s residence.
The updated law takes effect in July.
