Oregon’s Failed Experiment

No Psychiatric Oversight

National studies show that among patients requesting assisted suicide, depression is the only factor that significantly predicts the request for death. An estimated 90% of suicides in the U.S. are associated with mental illness, most commonly depression.10 Diagnosing depression can be challenging, even in cancer patients. In a survey of 1109 cancer patients, physicians were accurate in a diagnosing mid to severe depression only 13% of the time.11 In spite of these facts, by Oregon’s 10th year, not even one suicide victim received psychiatric counseling.¹²

The Myth of “Intractable Pain”

Supporters of assisted suicide have long maintained that assisted suicide is necessary for those suffering from intractable pain; however, to date, there still is no documented case of assisted suicide being needed for untreatable pain. In fact, in the list of reasons patients choose to use assisted suicide, pain, or fear of pain, is the least used reason! Dr. Linda Ganzini, professor of psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science University, surveyed family members of 83 Oregon patients who requested assisted suicide. Her published report emphasizes this truth: “No physical symptoms experienced at the time of the request were rated higher than 2 on a 1 to 5 scale. In most cases, future concerns about physical symptoms were rated as more important than physical symptoms present at the time of the request.”¹³

Needless suicides by abandoned patients

Ganzini concludes, “Our data suggest that when talking with a patient requesting (assisted suicide), clinicians should focus on eliciting and addressing worries and apprehensions about the future, with the goal of reducing anxiety about the dying process. Some Oregon clinicians have expressed surprise at the (lack) of suffering at the time of the request among these patients. Addressing patient concerns with concrete interventions that help maintain control, independence and self care, all in the home environment may b an effective way to address request for (assisted suicide) and improve quality of remaining life” ¹⁴

Oregon’s safeguards are illusory. Assisted suicide has spread beyond the type of people it supposedly was reserved for. A shroud of secrecy encompasses the reporting process of assisted suicide.

However publicized assisted suicide cases have proven:

• “Doctor shopping” interferes with long-time physician/patient relationships
• Familial pressure may promote suicide
• Assisted suicide will expand to euthanasia
• Patients suffering from depression and dementia are receiving physician-assisted suicide.
• Once receiving a drug overdose prescription from a pro-assisted suicide doctor, patients no longer receive concerned medical care, but instead are abandoned to die.

Once assisted suicide is legalized, it becomes impossible to contain. Once assisted suicide is legalized, it becomes impossible to protect the vulnerable and mentally ill. Once assisted suicide is legalized, it becomes, essentially, death on demand.

Dr. Charles Bentz had been the family physician of a 76 year-old man for many years. After making a diagnosis of malignant melanoma, Dr. Bentz referred the patient to a trusted colleague, an oncologist. As the patient went through chemotherapy and radiation therapy, he became depressed. On his final visit with the oncologist, he request assisted-suicide. Instead of addressing his depression or asking Dr. Bentz, his primary care physician who knew him to help the patient, the oncologist called Dr. Bentz to be the “second opinion” for his assisted-suicide. Dr. Bentz did not concur with assisted suicide, but said the patient’s depression should be addressed instead. Dr. Bentz’s concerns were ignored and two weeks later the patient was dead from a lethal overdose prescribed by the oncologist. Dr. Bentz’s ambiguity about Oregon’s assisted suicide law was immediately changed to active opposition. “The tragedy of Oregon,” says Dr. Bentz, “is that instead of doing the right thing, which is to provide excellent care, patient’s lives are being cut short by physicians who are not addressing the issues underlying patient suicidality at the end of life. This change in the direction of our profession after 2,400 years of ‘Do No Harm’ has me concerned.”