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Oregon Death with Dignity Act | Patient characteristics
2018 Total 1998-2002 2003-2007 2008-2012 2013-2017
Characteristics (N=168) (N=1,459) (N=129) (N=212) (N=340) (N=610)
Timing of DWDA event
Duration (weeks) of patient-physician relationship
Median 10 12 14 11 12 13
Range 1-1,108 0-2,138 0-1,337 0-1,477 0-1,905 1-2,138
Number of patients with information available 165 1,449 128 212 339 605
Number of patients with information unknown 3 10 1 0 1 5
Duration (days) between first request and death
Median 43 47 43 43 49 50
Range 15-807 14-1,009 15-466 15-1,009 14-872 15-692
Number of patients with information available 167 1,458 129 212 340 610
Number of patients with information unknown 1 1 0 0 0 0
1 Unknowns are excluded when calculating percentages.
2 Other northwest counties: Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, Linn, Polk, Tillamook, and Yamhill.
Southern: Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and Lake.
Central/Columbia Gorge: Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Hood River, Jefferson, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler.
Eastern: Baker, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa.
3 Includes deaths due to arthritis, arteritis, sclerosis, stenosis, kidney failure, and musculoskeletal systems disorders.
4 First recorded in 2001. Since then, 55 patients (4.6%) have chosen not to inform their families, and 21 patients (1.7%) have had no family to inform.
Information is unknown for 10 patients.
5 DDMP is a compound consisting of diazepam, digoxin, morphine sulfate, and propranolol. DDMP1 contains 10g of morphine sulfate; DDMP2 contains 15g. The
phenobartital compound consists of phenobarbital, chloral hydrate, and morphine sulfate.
6 Affirmative answers only (“Don’t know” included in negative answers). Categories are not mutually exclusive.
7 The percentages in this section have been recalculated since the original report date of 2/28/2019. The original percentages did not include “don’t know”
answers as a negative response.
8 First asked in 2003. Data available for 1,327 patients.
9 A procedure revision was made mid-year in 2010 to standardize reporting on the follow-up questionnaire. The new procedure accepts information about time
of death and circumstances surrounding death only when the physician or another health care provider is present at the time of death. This resulted in a larger
number of unknowns beginning in 2010.