A March 16, 2009 LifeNews article by Steven Ertelt arrived at precisely the wrong conclusion about the impact of hospice care on the Oregon Death with Dignity Act. The article quotes Wesley J. Smith, saying that hospice has been "infiltrated" by Compassion and Choices, an organization to expand choice at the end of life. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Enrollment in hospice care is considered to be a primary reason why so few Oregonians avail themselves of the legal Death With Dignity option. A research study completed in 2002 and which appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine, found that an explanation of the very low rate of assisted death may be the high quality of care provided by Oregon's hospices. Moreover, only 1/2 of 1% of patients who inquire about using the Death with Dignity Act, use the provisions of the law.
Hospice care provides patient-centered end of life care; care is based on the individual patient and their family. Hospice's interdisciplinary team approach ensures that pain and other physical symptoms are addressed as well as emotional, social and spiritual issues.
Hospices honor patient's wishes within the confines of the law. Hospices are by federal regulation, non-denominational. Hence, individuals' beliefs are respected.
"I find this attack on hospice care to be disappointing", said Deborah Whiting Jaques, the executive director/CEO of the Oregon Hospice Association. "Statements like these which are critical of hospice care can have the effect of discouraging individuals, particularly those in the faith community which Wesley Smith represents, to use hospice services. Such comments do a disservice to terminally ill Oregonians and their families . . .”
Hospice Foundation of America agrees.
