What You Need to Know About
Initiative 1000
I-1000:
Creates possible incentive for health care providers to cut costs by offering patients in a terminal condition the option of assisted suicide
Does not require psychological evaluation of those requesting assisted suicide, even though depression is a normal reaction to receiving a terminal diagnosis
Does not require family members to be notified when a person requests assisted suicide
Grants civil and criminal immunity to health care providers
Has inadequate reporting so abuses may never be known
Has no safeguards for the patient after the prescription is written
Does not require that assisted suicide requests be made in person
Requires doctors not to list assisted suicide as the cause of death on death certificates
Can change doctor-patient relationships
Declares that actions legalized by this initiative do not constitute suicide or assisted suicide, and Washington State reports shall not refer to practice under this initiative as suicide or assisted suicide.
