Death with Dignity - 2023 Updates

In April 2023, Washington state passed new legislation updating Death with Dignity requirements and processes that went into effect July 23, 2023. The biggest changes were:

• ARNPs and PAs are now eligible to participate in the act as an attending or consulting providers.
  • A physician (fully licensed MD or DO) must participate as either attending or consulting provider for every patient pursuing Death with Dignity.
    • The attending and consulting providers cannot have a supervisory relationship.
• The waiting period between 1^st and 2^nd request was shortened to 7 days, and the 48 hour waiting period after the Written Request for Medication was removed.

Please watch this video from Amisha Mehta, MD, Medical Director Supportive & Palliative Care and Sarah Peterson, Director Supportive & Palliative Care for an overview of the Death with Dignity act and to learn how to participate at Valley as a provider. There is no requirement for providers to participate in Death with Dignity.

You can find more resources, including the VMC policy & procedure here. Please reach out to dwd@valleymed.org with any questions, or directly to Amisha or Sarah.