WASHINGTON ASSISTED SUICIDE 2016 REPORT

August 11, 2017

From a July 26, 2017 Washington State Catholic Conference email:

"Last week, the Washington State Department of Health released its annual report on physician assisted suicide for 2016. The number of people who commit assisted suicide continues to increase in our state. During 2016, at least 192 people committed assisted suicide. The state's documentation on 20 other people who were prescribed a lethal dose is either missing or incomplete. There were 166 assisted suicide deaths in 2015 and 126 in 2014. Since assisted suicide became legal in 2009, a total of 677 people are known to have died.

While most of the people who died from assisted suicide were over 65 years old, the youngest who committed assisted suicide last year was only 33. Along with other life and dignity advocates, the WSCC continues to oppose assisted suicide. WSCC's booklet, A Guide to Making Good Decisions for the End of Life is available online. Click here to order printed copies of the booklet."