Details emerge surrounding controversial change to Death with Dignity Act

Elizabeth Hayes     May 10, 2019

A change to the Death with Dignity law would allow the drugs to be administered intravenously.   DOUGLAS SACHA

If a bill to expand Oregon’s 25-year-old Death with Dignity Act passes into law, terminally ill patients would be able to take the lethal drugs by a method other than swallowing.

The details of how that would work are coming into clearer focus.

Dr. Charles Blanke, a physician at Oregon Health & Science University and supporter of the proposed House Bill 2217,outlined a method to self-administer the drugs by IV that would be the first of its kind. It would be available to those who qualify to use the act but who are no longer able to swallow, or whose hands are too shaky to attach a syringe to their feeding tube.

Some are terrified they’ll only be able to force down a nonfatal dose and will wake up in a partial coma, Blanke said.

"We don't offer them dignity or autonomy or control," said Blanke, who wrote more prescriptions under the Death with Dignity Act than any other physician in Oregon last year.

Blanke is vetting the regimen with a team of anesthesiologists and pharmacists. He contemplates a multi-channel infusion pump that the patient would turn on by hitting a button with their hand, elbow or wrist. The drugs would be liquid, not gas.

“It requires motion but not dexterity,” he said in an interview. "We need something 100 percent reliable and effective."

Euthanasia is allowed in Canada and Europe, but nowhere in the U.S., and HB 2217 wouldn't change that, Blanke said. As he sees it, physicians would not have a bigger role than they have currently.

Those who voluntarily participate in the Death with Dignity Act must write the prescription and often place a feeding tube or empty secobarbital into a glass of water for the patient.

“The question raised was, is it euthanasia? Absolutely not,” Blanke said. “Are patient protections in place? Yes. The only thing that changes is the route.”

To qualify to use the act, a patient must be an Oregon resident of at least 18 years old, capable of making and communicating health care decisions for themselves and diagnosed with a terminal illness that will lead to death within six months.

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary heard from a parade of opponents during a Thursday public hearing. They argued the bill goes beyond being merely a technical fix.

“The bill, as written, will allow legal murder,” said Margaret Dore, an attorney from Seattle who said she’s testified against Death with Dignity bills in 20 states. “The cause of death will be listed as terminal illness. It creates a perfect crime.”

Bruce Yelle, who has three terminal illness diagnoses, including Parkinson’s disease, testified in favor.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to swallow or move my arms to my mouth,” Yelle said. “Please don’t make my choices for me.”

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