The California state assisted suicide report for 2017 omitted at least one important type of data, the reasons people request lethal drugs. The reasons data is something that Oregon and Washington have reported from the beginning of their “experiments” with these extremely flawed and dangerous laws.
This omission by California should raise red flags. First, the physician follow up form the state requires from the prescribing doctors after the patient dies includes a question about the reasons the patient requested assisted suicide. If the data is collected, why not report it?
Another red flag is the wording of the question on the form. The reasons question on the California form (See Question 15 below**) differs from the question on the Oregon form (also Question 15). The pain factor in California’s form refers to actual pain, while Oregon’s form refers to actual pain or concern about pain, potentially including fear of future pain. But the California form also includes “suffering” in the same factor, a vague term that could mean anything, including emotions such as loneliness, sadness or grief. By including pain and suffering in the same factor, the two are hopelessly conflated and rob the responses of important informational value. Indeed, as worded, both the OR and CA “pain” factors make it impossible to conclude that actual physical pain was the issue and, thus, don’t require the prescribing doctor to report actual uncontrolled physical pain that would raise questions about the doctors’ competence in pain relief.
More disturbingly, California omits two of the factors listed in the Oregon form – financial concerns and feelings of being a burden on others. Feelings of being a burden have been an increasing factor, with 55% reportedly expressing this in 2017 in Oregon.
As disability rights advocates have repeatedly noted, the reported reasons people request assisted suicide demonstrate, contrary to frequent claims by assisted suicide proponents, that pain is not the issue, but rather psychosocial and practical concerns that can be addressed by quality palliative care and other supports. In addition, these concerns demonstrate that the people who receive lethal prescriptions are disabled, whether their conditions be lifelong or acquired, chronic or terminal.
Since California is collecting but not reporting this data, we are left to ask why? Have assisted suicide proponents urged the state to withhold this information? Admittedly, disability advocates point out the corresponding data in Oregon as an indication of the dangers of assisted suicide laws. But if California claims to be committed to honest reporting, what do they have to hide?
** 15. Possible concerns that may have contributed to the patient’s decision to request a prescription for aid-in-dying drug Please check “yes,” “no,” or “Don’t know,” depending on whether or not you believe that concern contributed to their request (Please check as many boxes as you think may apply) A concern about. . .
o His or her terminal condition representing a steady loss of autonomy ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Don’t Know
o The decreasing ability to participate in activities that made life enjoyable ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Don’t Know
o The loss of control of bodily functions ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Don’t Know
o Persistent and uncontrollable pain and suffering ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Don’t Know
o A loss of Dignity ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Don’t Know
o Other concerns (specify): ____________________________________________