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Friday, February 14, 2025

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Federal prosecutors in NY and DC resign after refusing to drop Mayor Eric Adams charges; IN weighs Bitcoin bet in state investments; In rural east KY, communities find ways to boost kids early learning; and start date for MN's paid leave law is now up for debate.

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Federal workers tasked with securing elections from foreign interference are placed on leave, parents' organizations reject dismantling Dept. of Education, and the Congressional Black Caucus presses discussions on slavery reparations.

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Rural America struggles with opioids and homelessness in unexpected ways, Colorado's Lariat Ditch could help spur local recreation, and book deliveries revive rural communities hit by Hurricane Helene.

WA Bill Opens Up Access to Medical Aid-in-Dying Law

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Monday, February 14, 2022   

Washington state's Death with Dignity Act has been on the books for more than a decade. Proponents says it's time to update the law so that more people can access it.

The voter-approved law from 2008 allows state residents with six months or less to live to request end-of-life treatment. A measure in the Legislature lifts some restrictions on the law.

The bill passed the House last year but has stalled in the Senate. Judy Kinney is head of End of Life Washington.

"Over these 12, 13 years of our experience," said Kinney, "we're really seeing that there are some significant barriers that need to be improved so that people can access the law as they intended."

Kinney said action on House Bill 1141 could happen in the Senate as soon as this week.

Opponents say reducing waiting periods and other provisions of the bill would undermine the measure voters passed in 2008.

The current waiting period for the first and second requests for end-of-life medications is 15 days. But Kinney said that's an issue for many patients.

"We're finding that a quarter of our clients die a suffering death in that 15-day waiting period," said Kinney, "and so the bill shortens that period to 72 hours."

Last year, California reduced its waiting period from 15 days to 48 hours.

Kinney said the state also struggles with a lack of participating physicians, some of whom are barred from participating by their hospitals. She says 70% of the people who come to her organization need help finding a participating doctor.

The bill would allow more medical professionals to take part.

"Having nurse practitioners and physicians' assistants really expands the pool of trusted providers that people can access," said Kinney. "This is really important in rural areas, particularly in eastern Washington."

Opponents say this diminishes the role of doctors. About one-fifth of states have authorized medical aid in dying, including Oregon, which was the first state to do so, in 1994.




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