More terminally ill requesting lethal drugs under new law
That's according to Compassion &Choices Hawaii, part of a national nonprofit organization that advocates for laws that allow those nearing the end of life to choose how and when they die.
aid-in-dying law, also known as physician-assisted suicide, which is currently authorized in eight states and
The wife of a Kona man suffering from prostate cancer who died
"He laid down just like he does for a nap. In a minute or so he went into a deep sleep. All total maybe 30 minutes. This was the lasting memory he wanted to leave with me. He died in absolute peace and control of his own destiny on
Dr.
"Four of the patients died without ever having the chance of getting prescriptions, others are still in the process," he said.
Including Miller, there are at least half a dozen Kaiser doctors willing to write the prescriptions, he said. At least three pharmacies are filling the prescriptions, which can be mailed between islands. The medication costs around
Federally funded programs including Medicare, the health insurance program for seniors, and the veterans program, do not cover the cost of the medication, though the state Medicaid program for low-income residents will cover it, along with most commercial health plans.
Patients deemed mentally capable and able to take the medication on their own will be able to request a prescription after two doctors confirm the patient has a terminal illness and a six-month prognosis. Patients must make two separate appeals for medication, with a 20-day waiting period between the first and second requests. Also required is a written request overseen by two witnesses, one of whom is prohibited from being a beneficiary of the patient's estate.
It is a criminal offense to tamper with a patient's request or to coerce someone into medically assisted death.
Compassion &Choices has run a series of public service announcements, including one with actor
The process has gotten easier and quicker for dying patients, with one recently completing it within 22 days, said
Radcliffe, 77, was the first person to request medical aid in dying on
"Here I am going on several years now," he said in an interview last week. "It was great to be that guinea pig. One of the main things about terminal illness is the stress that's involved in it. There's a lot of stress and you have to figure out how to deal with that. I don't feel any better or worse medically because of it. I feel better psychologically because I have (the lethal prescription) there."
The state
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