Aviva Fried (correspondent in Los Angeles) / Photo credits: Aline Morcillo / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP
In the United States, assisted suicide has been authorized since 1997 in the state of Oregon, the first to have adopted legislation on the subject. The “death with dignity” law allows patients to administer the medication themselves.
The end-of-life bill is currently being written by the French government. A provisional version of the text leaked to the press and states that the executive would open the door to assisted suicide and euthanasia, without taking into account the limits set by caregivers. Other countries like the United States are facing this question. In the state of Oregon, for example, assisted suicide has been authorized since 1997. This state was the first to adopt legislation on the subject. A law entitled “death with dignity” which leaves it to the patient to act.
What are the conditions for being prescribed these medications?
To obtain this medication, the patient must be able to self-administer the lethal dose orally or by injection. Among the other conditions to be met to have the right to be prescribed medication which will be used in suicide, that of the minimum age. The patient must be at least 18 years old and mentally sound, which excludes, for example, Alzheimer’s patients.
Also, the patient must have an illness that leaves him with less than six months to live. If all conditions are met, a doctor can make a prescription within at least 15 days after a written request then an oral request.
3,200 patients have received the lethal prescription since 1997
On the day the patient decides to take the medicine, no doctor or medical staff is required to be present. This often happens with family or friends, and farewell ceremonies are sometimes organized.
Since the law was put in place, just over 3,200 patients have received the lethal prescription. Among them, two thirds ended their lives. Several doctors explain that the simple fact of having received the prescription is sometimes enough to meet the patient’s psychological need. There has therefore been no explosion in requests for assisted suicide in Oregon, which today represents approximately 0.6% of deaths in the state.