lunes, 22 de febrero de 2016

Oregon releases its 2015 ‘death with dignity’ stats

Oregon releases its 2015 ‘death with dignity’ stats



Careful! is MercatorNet's blog about end-of-life issues. We respect the dignity of each person from the beginning of life to its natural end. Leave your comments at the foot of our articles. The more the better! Write to us at editor@mercatornet.com.



SATURDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2016

Oregon releases its 2015 ‘death with dignity’ stats
comment 1 | print |       


Oregon is the model for assisted suicide legislation throughout the United States, so its annual “Death with Dignity” report for 2015 deserves close scrutiny.

Since the law was passed in 1997, a total of 1,545 people have had prescriptions written under the DWDA, and 991 patients have died from ingesting the medications.

The figures are not as straightforward as they might seem. During 2015, 218 people received prescriptions for lethal medications, but only 132 people died. Why the difference? Many people keep the medication on hand and wait until they are ready to use it – which could be in the next calendar year. Some die before using it; some disappear from the official statistics. So, of the 218, 125 used the medication and died; 50 died before they used it; 5 died and Oregon does not know whether or not they used it; and for 38 people (17%), there is no information about whether they used it or whether they are alive or dead.

Oregon is not far off the mean, but its population is older, whiter, more likely to live alone, and better educated than the US average. Those who died were even whiter and even better-educated than the Oregon average.

Although uncontrolled pain is often seen as sufficient justification for legalised assisted suicide, relatively few people even mentioned it. The three main reasons were “less able to engage in activities making life enjoyable” (96%); “losing autonomy” (92%); and “loss of dignity” (75%).

“Inadequate pain control or concern about it” was mentioned by 28.7% but the statistics do not indicate how many actually had actually experienced unrelieved pain.

Statistics about the dying process are very skimpy. Brittany Maynard, who must be among the 132 people in Oregon’s figures, died quickly and peacefully, surrounded by her family and friends. But it is not at all clear whether or not this is typical. For about 80% of the 132 deaths there is no information on how long it took or whether there were difficulties. In 2015, there is information on only 27 deaths; in 4 of these there were complications such as regurgitation or seizures.

It took patients between 5 minutes and 34 hours (sic, hours) to die – but there are figures only for 25 patients. In past years, it has taken up to 104 hours (ie, more than 4 days) to die.

One curious detail from the statistics: since 1997, 6 patients have regained consciousness after taking a lethal dose of medication. They have not been recorded in the statistics as assisted suicides. They probably died of their underlying complications – but this cannot be verified. Perhaps they are alive today. It would be interesting to know what their near-death experience was like.

Michael Cook is editor of MercatorNet
- See more at: http://www.mercatornet.com/careful/view/oregon-releases-its-2015-death-with-dignity-stats/17648#sthash.ilDoiDBm.dpuf





MercatorNet
Our lead story today comes from Australia -- a media witch hunt for Cardinal George Pell over sex abuse allegations. Now that the burly, genial cleric is the third person in the Vatican's hierarchy, the man in charge of reforming its chaotic finances, it is a story that could have world-wide repercussions. This is an incendiary issue, and we could easily be accused of taking the side of a MercatorNet contributor. Read it and make up your own mind.
However, I was delighted to read one of Australia's most popular columnists taking Pell's side. Andrew Bolt is not a Catholic, but he writes
... the campaign to destroy Pell has become sinister as well, after it was joined by — in my view — elements of Victoria Police.... This leak is clearly timed to hurt Australia’s highest-ranking Catholic. It seems to me a scandalous injustice and abuse of state power to leak information that the leaker must have known any newspaper would feel compelled to report, if not endorse. This is not the first sign that Victoria’s police force has a culture that encourages officers to hunt Catholics and smear their church.
Michael Cook 
Editor 
MERCATORNET
Hang him first, try him later
Michael Cook | FEATURES | 22 February 2016
A media lynch mob is baying for the blood of Australia's leading Catholic bishop
Read more...
Donor conception: a modern day slavery
Elizabeth Howard | FEATURES | 22 February 2016
An adult speaks out about the anguish caused by her lack of a biological father.
Read more...
Oregon releases its 2015 ‘death with dignity’ stats
Michael Cook | CAREFUL! | 20 February 2016
Since legalisation 991 people have died.
Read more...
Controlling trolls helps keep social media free
Denyse O'Leary | CONNECTING | 22 February 2016
But there’s a risk in making trolls more important than we need to.
Read more...
Educating African girls has a multiplier effect
Jotham Muriu Njoroge | HARAMBEE | 20 February 2016
"Educating girls is the best investment we can make to alleviate poverty and create a safer world. It has an incredible multiplier effect, providing returns for generations", says camfed.org
Read more...
MERCATORNET | New Media Foundation 
Suite 12A, Level 2, 5 George Street, North Strathfied NSW 2137, Australia 

Designed by elleston
New Media Foundation | Suite 12A, Level 2, 5 George St | North Strathfield NSW 2137 | AUSTRALIA | +61 2 8005 8605 

No hay comentarios: