Government

Physician Behind Oregon Assisted Suicide Law Kills Himself Using Procedure Approved By Law

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP/The Blaze) — A Portland physician who campaigned for Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act has died using lethal chemicals obtained under the law he championed. He was 83.

A spokesman for the organization Compassion and Choices says Peter Goodwin died Sunday at his home surrounded by his family. Goodwin told the Oregonian last month (http://bit.ly/Axamvh ) he’s battled a rare brain disorder for six years.

Oregon was the first state to allow terminally ill patients to take their own lives with the help of lethal medications supplied by a doctor.

The act was the result of a long campaign by Goodwin, and he’s called it his greatest legacy.

NPR reports Goodwin had been planning the act for some time:

Dr. Peter Goodwin practiced as a family physician in Oregon and Washington for five decades. Well after Oregon’s Death with Dignity law passed, he was diagnosed with a rare brain disease known as corticobasal degeneration. As it progresses, the condition can affect balance, muscle control and speech as well as cognitive abilities. Last September, Goodwin said that when he received his diagnosis he began to think about the right time to use the law to end his own life. But back then, the right time still seemed far away.

“I don’t want to die,” he said then. “No way do I want to die. I enjoy life; I enjoy company; I enjoy my friends. I have many, many, many friends.”[...]

On Sunday, he swallowed a fast-acting barbiturate prescribed by his doctor. He died less than half an hour later.

Pro-assisted suicide organization Compassion and Choices released this video tribute to Goodwin:

Comments (71)

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  • Zen Patriot
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 7:31am

    One trick pony.

    Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 8:11am

      May God have mercy on his soul.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • FlamingFartSyndrome
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 10:43am

      It is his right. If you disagree with him thats fine, name calling however is quite immature

      Report Post » FlamingFartSyndrome  
    • Red1492
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 10:52am

      It’s his right to die. he’s not taking anyone out with him. Christians would rather people suffer brutally until the end. I will never understand that logic.

      Report Post » Red1492  
    • 4xeverything
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 1:08pm

      @FLAMINGFARTSYNDROME

      “… name calling however is quite immature,” says the commenter with the handle FLAMINGFARTSYNDROME ;^)

      Report Post » 4xeverything  
    • lukerw
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 1:22pm

      A Brave Man dies but one Death…

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • johnnylingo
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:52pm

      Brain disorder for 7 years??how about 20 years. Obummmmacare advocote. Wasted life.

      Report Post »  
  • ZABO
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:52am

    one less blowbama vote. right on people! only if nancy pigoski will take a couple of puffs on that machine.

    Report Post »  
  • DogandPonyShow
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:44am

    Interesting you posters your lack of understanding and compassion for a dying man. :First do no harm’. If you’re going to use that, use it in the context for which it was intended. It does not apply to an 83 year old man suffering from a terminal illness. The doctor who wrote the prescription did not harm. His knowledge and compassion wrote the prescription. As one who has held 3 loved ones when they took their last breath, after months of pain and mental anquish, compared to holding my beloved pets that had to be euthanized, I wish the same could have been for my suffering loved ones. (My Mother with ALS, my brother with Pancreatic cancer, my beloved cousin with Ovarian cancer.) How dare you call this elderly man a coward. To you religious ones, do you not know the Bible says ‘A time to reap…a time to sow, a time to live, a time to die’? Your coming and going is in his hands, his plan. When my brother was first diagnosed and starting chemo, he ask me if I thought he could beat the cancer. I told him that I was praying he would but it was left up to our Master. If it is not your time to go, you will. But if it’s your time, no medicine, no man alive, will stop Gods will. Had a friend shot himself right between the eyes. The bullet traveled the skull on the outside and exited. Wasn’t his time. Suicide is a cruel thing to inflict on your loved ones. This man was surrounded by his loved ones. Huge difference. I’m 83 and suffering. Yep, doing the sam

    Report Post »  
    • aljohnston
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 8:48am

      My wife and I watched our beautiful 62 year old friend die from lung cancer last Thanksgiving. It was the worst experience of our lives. Neither of us can believe that we (American society) show more compassion to our suffering animals than to our people. As a Christian, I used to not believe in euthanasia, but now I do for the terminally ill. Although our friend was being administered higher and higher doses of morphine, she was in agony until the end. I can remember the point where I stopped praying for a miraculous healing and started praying for a merciful death. If I could do it over and had the means to shorten her agony I would because I loved her and her suffering was pointless.

      Report Post »  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 11:19am

      and…THE GOVERNMENT had to “approve” … next step, Federal-govt.-aproval…next step, the “bel-curve” of WHOLE-LIFE in Berry’s healthcare2014…Oh, You’re too old, minimal or no healthcare for you, or “here’s a few pills to help you allong”…for the “good” of TheCollective.

      Report Post »  
  • CROCK-HANDLER
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:20am

    Life is hard , death is easy. Liberals always want the easy way.

    Report Post »  
    • DogandPonyShow
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:53am

      How do you know it’s easy? When did you die? Don’t bring politics into yet another personal and private life situation. Very demeaning to that man and his family. I am not now, have never been, nor will I ever be, a liberal but my life is my life, not yours, and I think one should be able to make any and all life altering decision themselves, not a religious freak, or the government. I’m a Republican and I approve this message.

      Report Post »  
    • Red1492
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 10:55am

      Wow. So you would rather watch a person with a terminal disease suffer excruciatingly until the bitter end yet you would put your own dog out of it’s misery. At least humans have a say in the matter…unlike animals

      Report Post » Red1492  
  • SGT Rock
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:45am

    Suicide is the most selfish act a person can do. I hope I never think that death is the answer, too much survival training where you are taught to live for one more day. Who knows what tomorrow may bring. Rest in peace and hopefully GOD did not punish you by sending you to hell for suiciding.

    Report Post » SGT Rock  
    • 2theADDLED
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 6:17am

      Suicide is Honorable think of the Kamikaze the suicide mission giving your life for your country and beliefs if it is wrong than every soldier that died in battle was what a coward and selfish ?

      Report Post »  
  • SHOWMESTATEGUY
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 3:18am

    Darn, bye.

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 9:41am

      So, if he shot himself, he’d be looking at jail time?

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • LASTBOYSCOUT001
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 2:58am

    In my opinion, he is not a pioneer. He is just a simple coward. Too scared to play the cards life dealt him. A sore looser and most of all a COWARD.

    Report Post »  
  • jackbauer2012
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 2:51am

    He sounds like a deceived man. There are great things that our Father and Grand Parents taught their families in the last moments of their life. Including dignity. I don’t think this man ever understood that. I will forever be grateful to those who hung in their until the Lord took them. And for the last lessons that they taught. and probably never even knew it. RIP Mr. Goodwin

    Report Post »  
  • RosePurple
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 2:45am

    I don’t know… I have mixed thoughts on this.
    Indians, or I guess, just about anyone could go off and die as late as the 1800′s.
    I’ve worked in the healthcare field for the last 18 yrs.. I’ve seen people literally starve too DEATH. And I’ve seen some die from last stage cancer from the morphine to control the incrediable pain. This one is a hard one for me judge. On one hand the person doesn’t have to suffer from a debilitating disease, but , what will this lead too! People going around killing people because at least THIS is okay now? I mean look at putting in the Medical Journals that they think it‘s okay to terminate a baby AFTER IT’S BEEN BORN!!!
    Something to think about………

    Report Post »  
    • RosePurple
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 2:49am

      “I mean look at putting in the Medical Journals”
      What I meant to say was, “look at what their trying to put into Medical Journals”

      SORRY…..

      Report Post »  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 1:48am

    Best to do it when you can…….I choose to die with dignity as this lovely man did.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
  • paperpushermj
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 1:43am

    Well done Sir. A Nobel Death with honor, with your family at your side who count ask for more.

    Report Post » paperpushermj  
  • western_red
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 1:21am

    As ye sow, so shall ye reap. Too bad his mother didn’t practice contraception, but I guess he isn‘t cold were he’s at.

    Report Post » western_red  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 1:34am

      He will answer before God’s throne of Judgment as all of us shall; for good or for bad.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • paperpushermj
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 1:54am

      You Judge to soon Sir. His end of times was at his choice not at the pleasure of some disease eating at his brain.This is noble Death so “Their but for the Grace of God Go You”
      What would you do?
      If You had …The Choice?

      Report Post » paperpushermj  
    • DWilliams08
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:23am

      May our god bless you with ass cancer.

      Report Post » DWilliams08  
  • paperpushermj
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:55am

    I find something Bazar about this whole story

    Report Post » paperpushermj  
  • Madison2012
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:50am

    People commit suicide every day. Doctors should not do it. It goes against their oath of doing no harm. There is no law on earth that prevents anyone from committing suicide. Buy poison and drink it. No doc necessary. There many things you could eat that will kill you. Stop dragging other people into your personal behavior.

    Report Post » Madison2012  
  • cookcountypatriot
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:47am

    we will all stand before god….

    Report Post » cookcountypatriot  
    • Jenny Lind
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 8:36am

      Yes we will, and those who make really rude nasty remarks about this man’s choices, remember, the greatest gift God has given IS our God-given right to choose. Free agency is critical to His plan. As a dr he saw much pain and helpless patients who went through hell to die. He did what he thought right to help that pain. I disagree, but I do not consider him evil. And guess what gang? You do not get to judge him, or anyone else, not your call. And you also don’t get to condem others choices until you walk in their shoes. My husband of 42 years, 6 months and1 day chose to discontinue treatment for lung cancer and died less than two weeks later. He was never out of pain the entire time he was sick, I watched him suffer and took care of him. Had he chosen to end his life I would have shut my mouth and let him. He chose to honor God’s Law and let Him take him, but all who watched him die saw a hard death, that broke our heart’s. What you all forget, God is in charge not you. If someone is moved to stop suffering, it is between them and God, and some of those being ugly about it, well be carefull, God may let you learn the lessons the hard way. It pays to be mercifull, in fact Jesus taught us to be, so wishing ill on others could come back to bite you.

      Report Post »  
    • Red1492
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 10:59am

      Well said, Jinny Lind.

      Report Post » Red1492  
  • Gamaliel
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:42am

    Why didn’t he just do this in the first place instead of using his life to peddle suicide to the vulnerable?

    Report Post »  
  • BOMUSTGO
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:37am

    He is now shaking hands with Dr. Kavorkian.

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
  • TheObamanation
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:27am

    Now that’s what I call a Kook.

    Report Post » TheObamanation  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:24am

    A spokesman for the organization Compassion and Choices says Peter Goodwin died Sunday at his home surrounded by his family. Goodwin told the Oregonian last month (http://bit.ly/Axamvh ) he’s battled a rare brain disorder for six years.

    may i draw your attention to the last sentence

    i dont believe the brain disorder is rare at all …………20 % of our population is infected with liberalism ………..

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • Kaoscontrol
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 2:11am

      I understand why people are cheering this guy on, but it’s a bit spooky if you ask me. It seems a little too much like we’re opening the door to the scenarios that play out in movies like “Logan’s Run“ or ”Soylent Green”. It won’t take long for Obamacare death panels to start mandating suicide when we have an ailment deemed to be a a drain on the system. Abortion of the unfittest.
      I’ll let God determin when my time here is finished

      Report Post » Kaoscontrol  
  • NOTYERHUCKLEBERRY
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:18am

    Bye, bye! Se ya at the big gathering. Boy! are you in for a shock!

    Report Post »  
  • shackero
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:10am

    I prey for him—-He will now stand before God—and give an account of his life……………

    Report Post » shackero  
  • PaxInVeritate
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:10am

    So now he is faced with The Truth, Jesus Christ The Lord. To late now to change his opinion about “his legacy”.

    Report Post » PaxInVeritate  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:09am

    He was suffering from the heartbreak of Psoriasis.

    He actually asked his wife for a advil.

    He was really just a workaholic.

    Some people will do anything to get out of taking the trash out.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • LiberalMarine
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:06am

    If someone wants to die they should be able to in a way like this, with dignity and without harming others.

    Report Post » LiberalMarine  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:06am

    sad. I feel for people in such pain they have to chose this.

    Report Post »  
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