State of Oregon sees 28% increase in assisted suicides in one year

The number of deaths by assisted suicide in 2020 in the US state of Oregon has increased by 28% over the previous year, according to the latest data.

The Oregon Health Authority has published its latest report on assisted suicide in the state and reveals 245 people ended their lives via medically assisted suicide compared with 191 people in 2019. 

Over 81% of all assisted suicides took place among the over 65s and a total of 142 physicians were responsible for writing the prescriptions for the lethal drugs used in an assisted suicide. 79% of these doctors wrote one or two prescriptions with one particular doctor writing 31.

Since 1997, when assisted suicide was legalised in Oregon, a total of 1,905 people have taken their lives via assisted suicide, with 74% diagnosed with some form of cancer. The law permits assisted suicide for residents of Oregon over 18 who are diagnosed as having a terminal disease with less than 6 months to live.

The report also lists ‘End of Life Concerns’ of patients who underwent an assisted suicide in 2020.

53.1% of patients were concerned with being a “burden on family, friends/caregivers”.

94.3% of patients were concerned with being “Less able to engage in activities making life enjoyable”.

93.1% were concerned with “losing autonomy” and 71.8% were concerned with “loss of dignity”.

Of the total who have died since 1997, 27.4% have listed “inadequate pain control , or concern about it” as one of their end of life concerns.

THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED HERE BY RIGHT TO LIFE UK