The VGH Board of Commissioners approved recommendation on I-1000 as presented and requested additional information on how voter in our hospital district voted on this initiative. This topic will be added to the March Board agenda for further discussion and consideration.

Initiative 1000 - Washington’s Death with Dignity Act

Ethics Committee Recommendation – February 2, 2009     

Hospitals exist to heal, educate and provide comfort, including pain relief. When a patient has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, the patient and his/her family needs time to grieve and to plan for the end of life and the loved one’s future. Decisions related to death and dying, especially choosing to end life, should be made with a clear mind, with full knowledge of the options and consequences involved, and with the support and advice of family and trusted, long standing advisors.

Acute care hospitalizations by nature are of short term duration. Healthcare providers in the hospital setting have become increasingly specialized and do not have an established, long term relationship with the patient to understand all of the issues the patient may be facing. The hospital healthcare providers can provide support and education, but that does not take the place of an on-going developed physician/patient relationship.

The Ethics Committee believes in the principle of autonomy and the individual’s right to choose. However, we cannot recommend Valley General Hospital’s participation in Initiative 1000. VGH pharmacists should not dispense medication for the purpose of ending life, and the administration of these medications should not be allowed on hospital premises.

We do recognize that some patients may desire to seek physician advice and consultation regarding the ending of life. We recommend that the hospital not interfere between a patient and his/her primary care physician, but would encourage the physician and patient to consider all options including Hospice and other end of life comfort measures.

As amended by Medical Executive Committee 2/5/09.