"We just happen to live here": two social workers share their stories about Oregon's Death with Dignity Law.
This article is written more like a conversation with the reader rather than a strictly academic piece. The purpose is to share from a more personal perspective the unique circumstances and challenges faced by two social workers in Oregon as they grappled with the Death with Dignity Law. The law has been in effect for six years and a May 2004 decision from the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court allowed the law to remain a legal end-of-life option. Each writer has a unique voice on the process of social work involvement in practice, research, and policy since the law was originally passed in 1994.
Miller
Pamela J
PJ
Graduate School of Social Work, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97207, USA. millerp@pdx.edu
Hedlund
Susan C
SC
D003643:Death; D006801:Humans; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D009922:Oregon; D012297:Right to Die / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012947:Social Work; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence