Oregon's Death With Dignity Prescriptions Rose Slightly Last Year. Here's Why

Oregon's Death With Dignity prescriptions rose slightly last year. Here's why

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Prescriptions for self-administered lethal medication are up, according to the latest data on Oregon's Death with Dignity Act. The law allows adult patients who are diagnosed with a terminal illness and have six months or fewer to live to request a prescription for end-of-life medication. "What we’ve been seeing over the last several [...]

Report: Death with Dignity Act prescriptions continued rise in 2025

Prescriptions for life-ending medications by participants in Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act (DWDA) continue a steady increase, new Oregon Health Authority (OHA) data show.

Death with Dignity numbers up, with five deaths reported in eastern Oregon in 2025

PORTLAND – New data from the Oregon Health Authority shows a steady increase in prescriptions for life-ending medications under the state’s Death with Dignity Act. The 2025 data summary, released Wednesday, reported a 5% increase in the number of prescriptions for lethal medications, rising to 637 from 609 the previous year. Despite the rise in prescriptions, the number of resulting deaths dropped 5%, from 421 to 400. OHA officials noted the num…