[Right_to_die] Won't co-operate with hastened deaths, even though lawful

[World right-to-die news (nonprofit)]

The Spokesman-Review newspaper in Washington State reported 7 November 2008

Medical providers say they won't assist with suicides

By John Stucke, Staff writer

While Washington voters made it legal for doctors to help terminally ill 
residents end their lives, opponents of the assisted suicide measure 
indicated Wednesday they will continue to resist the practice.
Initiative 1000 won with strong support Tuesday, but doctors don't have 
to help their patients make that final act, says the Washington State 
Medical Association.
Furthermore, Eastern Washington's largest hospital system, Providence 
Health and Services, will forbid physicians from helping patients die at 
its hospitals, nursing homes and assisted care centers.
"Providence will not support physician-assisted suicide within its 
ministries," the owner of Sacred Heart Medical Center and Holy Family 
Hospital said in a prepared statement. "This position is grounded in our 
basic values of respect for the sacredness of life, compassionate care 
of dying and vulnerable persons, and respect for the integrity of 
medical, nursing and allied health professions. We do not believe health 
care providers should ever be put in a position of aiding a patient in 
taking his or her own life."
The new Washington law is set to take effect in July 2009 after state 
regulators write rules to guide the practice.
Only the second of its kind in the country, the measure is modeled after 
an Oregon law that has been in practice for 10 years and has survived 
legal challenges.
Providence Health, which operates eight hospitals in Washington and 
seven in Oregon, is not pursuing legal action to stop the new law, said 
spokeswoman Karina Jennings.
"We believe we don't have to participate and plan to exercise a 
conscience clause allowing us to be exempt," she said.
The Catholic Church was an ardent opponent of the assisted suicide 
initiative; Providence Health is a Catholic health ministry.
Similarly, the Washington State Medical Association was outspoken in its 
opposition during the campaign.
It was among medical associations in 49 states that oppose assisted 
suicide and support repeal of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, said 
spokeswoman Jennifer Lawrence Hanscom.
Doctors say assisted suicide runs counter to the Hippocratic Oath, which 
directs them to do no harm.
Washington's I-1000 allows doctors to prescribe to adult patients a 
lethal overdose of barbiturates or other drugs if the doctor believes 
that patient has a life expectancy of less than six months.
Supporters of the law, notably former Gov. Booth Gardner, and opponents 
spent a combined $7 million on highly emotional advertising and campaigning.
By a 59 percent to 41 percent margin, Washington voters agreed that 
terminally ill people have the right to obtain lethal prescriptions from 
their doctors to hasten their deaths.
Hospice of Spokane said the initiative will not affect its mission.
"Hospice of Spokane's life-affirming care is intended to neither hasten 
nor prolong death," the organization said in a statement. "Rather, it is 
about providing patients with the best possible quality of life in the 
time they have remaining."
The nonprofit organization does not practice physician-assisted suicide 
or euthanasia.
But it will not deny or discontinue hospice care to patients who are 
considering seeking help to end their lives.