Iniative 1000-Death with Dignity

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Specializes in SNF.

I wanted to get input from nurses in Washington state on the Death with dignity initiative on the ballot next month.

How do you Washington nurses feel about this?

Teresa

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Specializes in CVOR, General OR.

My husband and I were arguing about that issue. For him it's again "pro choice" that patient can have an option. But for me, since I'm in a healthcare setting and experienced assisting that (in other country), I am telling him it is morally wrong. As for me, I was forced to do that not because I want to but because I dont want to lose my job and my license. It's being practical but it's so simple reason that you kill rather than saving lives.

He is going to vote and I'm not. So I really have to persuade him a little bit more not to vote for Initiative 1000.

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although i am not a WA resident....i have been living here for some time. i will vote in WA this time instead of AZ. As the OP described, i and my boyfriend who is not in medical field have arguments too.

he will vote against it but i will vote for it.

his arguments: poor people or family that abuse pt. for financial motives or pt. who feel they are a burden to family will request I-1000. in his views it is legal suicide.

my arguments: as a nurse i have seen many pts. who suffered a lot against their will because the family will fly from other state only to execute their power as DPOA without considering what the pt. is going through. I put myself in pt. shoes and think "is this what i want when i am terminally ill with a lot of pain and suffering. my son and daughter who fly once a yr to meet me for couple of days to make decision on my behalf." One pt. i had a long time ago was ESRD, on hemodialysis, stage 4 wound ulcer on her hip and coccyx, colon CA spread to lung and bone. She had made her daughter DPOA who lives out of state. Her living will made like years ago obviously outdated and her wishes now were contrary to that made a decade ago. The family wanted this old lady to have CA treatment (chemo/radiation) at any cost. They wanted her to have full blown treatment. She was so malnutrition because of loss of appetite from CA treatment + strict renal diet, strict I & O which was obviously not helping her stage 4 ulcer to heal. Whatever she ate even 2 bites, vomits stat.The MD/ social worker all tried to work with the family to have the pt on hospice but family was so adamant to tx the patient. The pt would cry but family thinks "mom" is depressed and "i would not be guilty for rest of my life if treatment is not done." family insisted "mom is depressed now and not mentally sound to make decision". All treatments should continue. She was so drugged up for CA pain. There are multiple other cases i can go on but i truly believe this bill should be passed. It's not like anyone can ask death with dignity. 2 MD has to diagnose pt. will not live 6 months or longer. Psychiatrist has to evaluate if pt. is mentally sound or not. + its patient's decision and their right to end their life with dignity, not a distant son or daughter pretending to advocate for patient but fulfilling their own emotional needs.

this bill will be controversial just like pro-choice and pro-life.

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I think it is less controversial then 'abortion' because at least the individual has lived a portion of his/her life and is making the decision on his/her behalf.

I found the summary in the election pamphlet rather well done and found both the opposing and submitting arguments well done.

As with all morale issues I like to read the facts and some key points of thought - however, the media spin and emotional antics of gov affiliated parties is rather annoying and somewhat offensive.

Good post above ;) It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

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Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.

I just filled out my mail-in ballot and I voted for it. It's very similar to the Oregon law, which hasn't been used much.

The patient has to begin the process when they are cognizant, get (I think) 2 doctors to agree they are terminally ill, and they must, if they choose to follow through, give the medications to themselves.

That seems very reasonable to me. And just because someone has the meds doesn't mean they would actually go through with it, or that they wouldn't die before doing it.

It might be the last decision they can actually make for themselves and I would respect that.

I don't know how much DH voted on this issue, although we agree on all the rest.

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I have to say that the comercials for the NO on I-1000, really really upset me.. the spin they have just has me shouting at my tv:throcomp:.. the one where the woman was like "they told my husband he had

I get so mad at that.. no depth on what his QUALITY OF LIFE WAS for those extra months.. nothing.. just making it sound like a Medical error, and we would have killed him.

I am voting for it. Even before I was a nurse I saw situations where that was what the person wanted.. QUALITY over QUANTITY and the pain for the person and their family when they were forced to continue down a path of care they really didn't want, or to live beyond what they wanted to. People deserve the right to make an informed decision about their care, treatment, and life plan.

Probably should not be getting on the soap box when this tired, so not to offend, but we keep pushing that we want our patients to be involved in their care, make decisions, ask questions, be their own advocate, so I see this as another step in that direction, which is good.

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although i am not a WA resident....i have been living here for some time. i will vote in WA this time instead of AZ. As the OP described, i and my boyfriend who is not in medical field have arguments too.

he will vote against it but i will vote for it.

his arguments: poor people or family that abuse pt. for financial motives or pt. who feel they are a burden to family will request I-1000. in his views it is legal suicide.

my arguments: as a nurse i have seen many pts. who suffered a lot against their will because the family will fly from other state only to execute their power as DPOA without considering what the pt. is going through. I put myself in pt. shoes and think "is this what i want when i am terminally ill with a lot of pain and suffering. my son and daughter who fly once a yr to meet me for couple of days to make decision on my behalf." One pt. i had a long time ago was ESRD, on hemodialysis, stage 4 wound ulcer on her hip and coccyx, colon CA spread to lung and bone. She had made her daughter DPOA who lives out of state. Her living will made like years ago obviously outdated and her wishes now were contrary to that made a decade ago. The family wanted this old lady to have CA treatment (chemo/radiation) at any cost. They wanted her to have full blown treatment. She was so malnutrition because of loss of appetite from CA treatment + strict renal diet, strict I & O which was obviously not helping her stage 4 ulcer to heal. Whatever she ate even 2 bites, vomits stat.The MD/ social worker all tried to work with the family to have the pt on hospice but family was so adamant to tx the patient. The pt would cry but family thinks "mom" is depressed and "i would not be guilty for rest of my life if treatment is not done." family insisted "mom is depressed now and not mentally sound to make decision". All treatments should continue. She was so drugged up for CA pain. There are multiple other cases i can go on but i truly believe this bill should be passed. It's not like anyone can ask death with dignity. 2 MD has to diagnose pt. will not live 6 months or longer. Psychiatrist has to evaluate if pt. is mentally sound or not. + its patient's decision and their right to end their life with dignity, not a distant son or daughter pretending to advocate for patient but fulfilling their own emotional needs.

this bill will be controversial just like pro-choice and pro-life.

If a patient's POA is making health care decisions for them I don't think they'd be eligible for the "death with dignity" law anyways, right?

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm a former WA resident and my Dad (a RN) and I had a huge argument over this.

"Justine, how can you be for initiative-1000? You're a nurse!"

"Dad, I'm a nurse. How could I not be for i-1000?"

I think a lot of the arguments against i-1000 are very silly. The ones that irk me the most are:

1) People will die in droves because of this. Oregon hasn't-why should we think that this will be something everyone will elect to use?

2) It isn't required to tell the patient's family what's going on. Hello!! HIPPA, anyone? This would NEVER happen anyway and it makes me angry that people think that they have a right to know about somebody else's health. It's private information, people! Yes, most people will probably let their family know how they're doing, but it's a privilege, NOT a right!

In any case, I'm surprised that i-1000 passed. It's hotly debated even among liberals and we've got enough conservative folks in this state that I thought would tip the vote their way.

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Specializes in Infusion.

I am so happy it passed. I am used to from Holland....and DH and both said, if one of us became terminally ill...we'd take a trip to Europe....where it can be done....thank god we can do it here now!

We let our pets go when it's time, to stop the suffering....why not ourselves??

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