Legalising Assisted Dying has not affected the high standards of palliative care in Oregon, USA, says visiting Head of Oregon Hospice Association (19 April)

Legalising Assisted Dying has not affected the high standards of palliative care in Oregon, USA, says visiting Head of Oregon Hospice Association

Ann Jackson, Executive Director of the Oregon Hospice Association, will be briefing members of the House of Lords tomorrow afternoon, ahead of the 12 May debate on the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill (the Joffe Bill).

The Joffe Bill is based on Oregon’s law, the world’s most long-standing legislation of its kind. The Oregon Hospice Association is neither for nor against assisted dying and Ms Jackson confines her comments to expert knowledge about the consequences of having changed their law, and how it works in practice.

Ms Jackson said,

“Oregon’s end of life care, including hospice and palliative care, is very highly regarded. I am disappointed to learn that there has been adverse comment about this in the UK debate and I wish to set the record straight.

“Oregon’s law was implemented in 1997, and in the eight years since palliative care has not suffered as some forecast.

“There is no evidence that assisted dying has undermined Oregon’s end of life care or harmed the interests of vulnerable people.

“There is evidence that despite the high quality of care they have received, a small but significant minority of terminally ill people still wish to have aid in dying.”

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