Oregon Public Broadcasting

Opponents of Washington’s new “Death with Dignity” law are weighing their options. Those include whether to go to court to try to block the citizen initiative from taking effect.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Health is starting to figure out how to implement the law. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

When Oregon adopted its Death with Dignity Act 14 years ago – lawsuits immediately tied up the measure in the courts for several years.

Now that Washington voters have passed a similar law, legal precedent is on the side of supporters. But opponents say they’re exploring all the possible ways to fight against what they call a flawed and dangerous law.

Chris Carlson chairs the Coalition Against Assisted Suicide. He says he will advocate for a lawsuit in an upcoming meeting of the Coalition.

Chris Carlson: “I’m hopeful that it will be given serious consideration and I think that there’s a good possibility that that avenue may be pursued.”

In the meantime, the Washington State Department of Health is getting ready to implement the law – which goes into effect in March.

Under the initiative, the Department is charged with issuing annual reports on how many patients choose to hasten their deaths under the law.

That means doctors who prescribe a lethal dose of medication to a terminally ill patient must report it to the state.