Portland, Oregon (KATU) – Prescription drugs for life-terminating drugs increased as Oregon’s Dignity Act (DWDA) and the death Act (DWDA) increased between 2023 and 2024 between 2023 and 2024, according to new data from the Oregon Department of Health.
The OHA’s 27th Annual Report on DWDA revealed that lethal drug prescriptions increased by 8.2%, from 561 to 607. However, deaths from ingestion of these drugs decreased by about 2.6% from 386 to 376.
Data for 2024 shows a shift from 2023, when prescriptions surged by about 29%, primarily due to the revision of the DWDA, which removed state residency requirements. That year, deaths from drug ingestion increased by about 20%.
In 2024, 23 prescribers (4%) lived outside of Oregon, which saw a slight drop in 2023 from 29 recipients (5%).
“Maybe what we are seeing is the growing interest and cooling of participation in DWDA that occurred when patients were no longer needed to receive medical assistance when they die.
Jeanne added that the OHA has not observed any dramatic changes in the demographics of DWDA participants, saying that “participants’ characteristics are generally consistent with the previous year.”
Despite the increase in cases in 2023, the results of the report are consistent with those from the previous year. Doctor-supported deaths continue to account for a small percentage of the estimated 44,000 deaths in Oregon annually.
As in previous reports, participants were more likely to be 65 years and older (83%) and white (92%). The most common medical check-up among participants was cancer (57%), followed by neurological disease (15%) and heart disease (11%).
In 2024, the OHA did not refer prescription physicians to the Oregon Medical Board because it failed to comply with the DWDA reporting requirements.
Other findings for 2024 include:
- The fatal dosage prescription drug was written by 135 different doctors.
- Over half of the patients were male (53%).
- There were only less than half of the bachelor’s degree or above (45%).
- Most patients died at home (83%), and most were enrolled in hospice care (92%).
- Except for unknown cases, all patients had some form of health insurance. The proportion of patients with private insurance increased slightly in 2023 (21% to 23%), while Medicare or Medicaid insurance fell slightly (79% to 77%).
- As in the past few years, the most frequently reported end-life concerns have been loss of autonomy (89%), the ability to participate in activities that make life more enjoyable (88%), and the loss of dignity (64%).
oha must gather information on compliance with laws of dignity and death; Please release the information every year.
