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Originally Posted by thetaj
I guess I'm not against doctor-assisted suicide. People should be able to do what they want. But there would be such a huge potential for abuse if it were legalized. I personally think the risks of legalizing it outweigh the benefits.
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It's already legal in Oregon and Washington. It's not used nearly as much as you might think, and there are several steps one must take in order to receive a prescription from the doctor. I am happy we legalized it.
ETA: legal in Montana, too.
EATA: from Wikipedia, on the steps one must take in Oregon and Washington to obtain a prescription:
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The Oregon Death with Dignity Act, and the Washington statute modeled after it, set certain requirements and safeguards before a person may commit suicide with a doctor's assistance. The patient must be of sound mind when they request a prescription for a lethal dose of medication. Two doctors must confirm a diagnosis of terminal illness with no more than six months to live. Two witnesses, one non-doctor unrelated to the patient, must confirm the patient's request, and the patient must make a second request after 15 days.
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According to
this article from the New York Times, only 36 people took advantage of the law in Washington in its first year. I seem to recall reading that it didn't increase massively in the second year, either.