Is Euthanasia part of end-of-life-care?

On Wednesday of this past week, the state of Washington cast their vote - not just for the future president of the US of A, but also to decide whether euthanasia, or more specifically, doctor assisted suicide, could fit into their vision of end-of-life care. From my point of view, the decision was heartening. They voted to legally allow this choice for those individuals suffering at the end of their lives. Washington state is the second American state to legally sanction this choice. They follow Oregon.

Here is Canada, the last real challenge to the illegality of doctor-assisted suicide was made by a courageous woman, Sue Rodriguez. Ms. Rodriguez was suffering from a debilitating illness, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and wanted the right to decide when she personally had had enough. She was a resident of British Columbia and her case ended up in the BC Supreme Court. Her right was denied. This was more than a decade ago and nothing has changed since. Of course, it is unrealistic to suggest that very many people, at the end stages of life, have the energy or perhaps even the desire to continue this fight.

Hospice Palliative care does not support any kind of euthanasia. It is their position that with proper and adequate pain management and comfort/care supports available and in place for the individual and their families, it is an unnessecary choice. I acknowledge and respect their position.