Oregon's repealed Death With Dignity Act led to more physician-assisted suicides in 2023

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — After Oregon legislators extended the state’s physician-assisted suicide law to out-of-state residents, prescriptions for a life-ending drug increased by 29% last year.

In October 1997, Oregon adopted the Death With Dignity Act, which allows doctors to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill patients. It wasn’t until July 2023 that officials repealed the law, thus allowing out-of-state residents to access the medication as long as they meet the remaining requirements.

Those who receive the medication must be at least 18 years old, capable of consulting with health care professionals and diagnosed with a terminal illness that will end in death within six months.

On Wednesday, the Oregon Health Authority disclosed there were 560 prescriptions for the lethal medication in 2023 — compared to 433 prescriptions in 2022. The number of assisted suicides subsequently rose by 20%, from 304 in 2022 to 367 last year.

Health officials determined the increase can partially be attributed to House Bill 2279, which removed the Death With Dignity Act’s residency requirement. OHA reported 23 out-of-state resident deaths, but the number could be higher due to a lack of information from out-of-state physicians.

The health authority plans to record non-Oregon patients’ residency status this year.

“OHA’s role is that of a steward of data about the use of the law,” Deputy State Health Officer Tom Jeanne said. “This is a law, not an OHA program, and our principal role is to report accurate aggregate data about the use of the law. It is critical that we have accurate data so that informed ethical, legal and medical decisions can be made.”

Over 26 years, there have been 4,274 prescriptions and 2,847 assisted suicides under DWDA.

OHA reported that 82% of patients who died after ingesting the drug were over the age of 65, and about 66% of them were diagnosed with cancer.