|
Contact u s:
Hospice Southwest, 360.696.5100
"People don't stop living just because they are dying. We want to help people live as fully as they can for as long as they can." —Sonjia Hauser, RN, clinical manager of the Ray Hickey Hospice House
What is the Death with Dignity Act?
Washington's Death with Dignity Act makes it legal in some circumstances for physicians to prescribe medication to a patient to end his or her life. The law prohibits mercy killing and lethal injections by physicians but allows physicians to prescribe medication to a qualified patient to end his or her own life. Under the law, the patient may request the physician to prescribe the means and the instructions to end life. The patients may then use the medication to commit suicide.
What is a "qualified patient" under the Death with Dignity Act?
A qualified patient is 18 years of age or older, a resident of the state of Washington, has been diagnosed with a terminal illness (less than six months to live), and who has voluntarily expressed a wish to die and complied with the Death with Dignity Act.
What is Southwest's policy regarding the Death with Dignity Act?
The resources of Southwest Washington Health System (SWHS) are focused on providing exceptional palliative and end-of-life care and shall honor the patient's right to self-determination. While SWHS will not participate in assisted suicide in our pharmacies and facilities, this policy supports patients in exercising their convictions and the legal rights of physicians outside their affiliation with SWHS.
| |
Southwest's employed physicians: |
|
- May discuss the issue with the patient only if the conversation is initiated by the patient.
- Shall not encourage or discourage a patient's request.
- Shall not write prescriptions under the Act within the scope of their employment.
- May act as the "consulting physician" as described under the Act.
- If physicians choose to act as the "attending physician" as described in the Death with Dignity Act and write a prescription, they must do it outside their employment with Southwest.
|
| |
Southwest's pharmacies |
|
Shall not dispense prescriptions for this purpose. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
If patients specifically ask Southwest's medical and non-medical staff for information, employees shall: |
|
- Refer the patient to his/her attending physician.
- Provide the patient with the Death with Dignity Information Packet. (This information is available from Palliative Care, Hospice, Care Management, and Spiritual Care.)
- Notify the patient's primary clinical caregiver so the request can be documented in the medical record.
|
| |
If SWHS employees hear a patient express a desire to end his/her life under the Act, they shall: |
|
- Refer the patient to his/her attending physician.
- Notify the patient's primary clinical caregiver so the request can be documented in the medical record.
|
How can I learn more?
Southwest Washington Medical Center respects every individual's decision about end-of-life care. Southwest's palliative care, homecare, hospice and bereavement programs offer medical, spiritual and emotional assistance to patients and their families. You and your loved ones have many resources:
| If you have questions about ... |
|
Start here ... |
| |
|
|
| Washington's Death with Dignity Act |
|
Talk to your physician. Under the law, there are several requirements and forms that must be completed.
Click here to learn more about Washington's Death with Dignity Act.
|
| |
|
|
| Finding medical, spiritual and emotional assistance for a life-threatening illness |
|
Click here to learn more about Southwest's Bridges Palliative Care program, or call 360.696.5103. |
| |
|
|
| Receiving medical treatment or assisting a loved one at home |
|
Click here to learn more about HomeCare Southwest, or call 360.759.1500. |
| |
|
|
| Finding out more about hospice care at home |
|
Click here to learn more about Hospice Southwest, or call 360.656.5100. |
| |
|
|
| Finding out more about hospice care when a loved one may not be able to stay at home |
|
Click here to see a video, request a brochure, or learn more about Southwest's Ray Hickey Hospice House; or call 360.514.4350. |
| |
|
|
| Having someone to talk to before or after the death of a loved one |
|
Click here to request brochures, view the support group schedule, and learn more about Southwest's Hope Bereavement Services; or call 360.696.5120. |
| |
|
|
| Finding resources for children when there has been a death in the family |
|
Click here to see a video about the Stepping Stones program and learn more about Southwest's Hope Bereavement Services for children; or call 360.696.5120. |
| |
|
|
| Making a living will that describes personal, emotional and spiritual needs, as well as medical wishes, in case of a serious illness |
|
Click here to request a copy of the Five Wishes® booklet, or call 360.514.3105. |
| |
|
|
| I'm not sure where to start |
|
Click here to learn more about Hospice Southwest, or call 360.696.5100. |
Click here to return to the main HomeCare/Hospice Southwest webpage.
|
