The Task Force to Improve the Care of Terminally-Ill Oregonians

Web page courtesy of: Oregon Health & Science University - Center for Ethics in Health Care

The Oregon Death With Dignity Act: A Guidebook for Health Care Professionals

In January 1995, after Oregon voters approved the Death With Dignity Act, the Center for Ethics in Health Care convened the Task Force to Improve the Care of Terminally-Ill Oregonians. Members include representatives from state health care professional organizations, state agencies involved with health care, and health systems in the Portland metropolitan area.

The Task Force, remaining neutral on the issue of physician assisted suicide, has as its overall goal to promote excellent care of the dying. One of its tasks has been to develop professional standards related to the Death With Dignity Act. The purpose of this book is to offer guidance to health care providers whose patients may be interested in exploring their options under the provisions of the Death With Dignity Act.

Chapters were drafted and researched by selected Task Force members and reviewed by the entire group. Chapter authorship does not represent endorsement by the author's organization. Susan Tolle, M.D., provided review and commentary on each drafted chapter. Kathleen Haley, J.D., and Melinda Lee, M.D., served as editors.

The Oregon Death With Dignity Act: A Guidebook for Health Care Professionals, offers clinical and practical guidelines to enhance compassionate care of the dying, and to help providers whose patients may be interested in the Death With Dignity Act.

The comprehensive guidebook presents information on a wide range of issues and includes chapters on the role of physicians and other providers, conscientious practice, mental health consultations, pharmacy information, emergency medical services and others. It also includes a thorough discussion of state reporting requirements and legal issues surrounding the Act. Each chapter includes a set of guidelines for providers to consider in developing their own policies and procedures on the Act.

The Task Force will be updating the guidebook on an ongoing basis.  This is necessary as legislative changes are made, such as Senate Bill 491 passed by the Oregon Legislature in June of 1999, and new information is gleaned from the experience of the law's implementation.  In some cases new chapters, short statements or appendices will be written to augment the information already in the guidebook.   Each chapter will include a date when it was first written, and a date when it was last revised.

The Task Force will utilize this web page to post revisions and additions to the Guidebook as they are made available. A table of contents is currently listed for your convenience.

The Final Months of Life:  A Guide to Oregon Resources

The Final Months of Life: A Guide to Oregon Resources, developed by The Task Force to Improve the Care of Terminally Ill Oregonians, is organized for your convenience by county and by type of service. The above link will take you to the pages of resources.

Oregon Department of Human Services Informational Web Site:

Oregon Department of Human Services Death With Dignity Act  Information

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Last updated 10/14/02 01:42 PM
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