Oregon's Death with Dignity Act

Get an overview of the law and information on eligibility.

In 1997, Oregon became the first state to legalize medical aid in dying (MAID) by enacting the Death with Dignity Act. This Act allows terminally ill individuals to end their lives through the voluntary self-administration of lethal medications, expressly prescribed by a physician for that purpose. Although a large majority of Oregonians support MAID, few know the details of the law or how to access it.

In this presentation, we'll provide an overview of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act. We'll share some background on how and when the law was enacted, discuss who is - and who is not - eligible, review the process and timelines for utilizing the law, and provide information on available resources.

The presenters are volunteers with End of Life Choices Oregon, a 501c3 non profit organization. Importantly, we will not be discussing or debating the ethics of this law. The focus of this class is on the law and how individuals who qualify can access it.

About the Presenters:

Tom Leach

Tom is a volunteer with End of Life Choices Oregon.  Over the past 17 years, he has guided hundreds of people and their families through the medical aid in dying process.

Angelique Loscar

After more than twenty-five years in the biotechnology industry working on cancer therapies, Angelique began volunteering in hospice and training as an end-of-life doula. That path led her to End of Life Choices Oregon, where she has accompanied dozens of people and their families as they navigate the legal process to access medication under Oregon’s Death with Dignity law. Angelique also serves as Director of Data Management and Analysis for the Academy of Aid-in-Dying Medicine, and her research has been published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Palliative Medicine. 

Questions? Contact lizg@deschuteslibrary.org