FORKS — Forks Community Hospital has become the second hospital on the North Olympic Peninsula that will not participate in Initiative 1000, a measure voters approved in November to allow terminally ill patients who want to end their lives a way to find help to do so.
The three hospital commissioners voted 2-1 during Tuesday’s board meeting to opt out of the Death with Dignity law.
Board members Don Lawley and Daisy Anderson voted for non-participation. Board member Gerry Lane was opposed.
On March 4, six of the seven commissioners on the board of Olympic Medical Center, with facilities in Port Angeles and Sequim, voted to opt out by a vote of 4-2.
In contrast, Jefferson Healthcare, based in Port Townsend, has decided to participate in the law, which took effect on March 5.
In February, four of the five Jefferson Healthcare commissioners voted 4-0 to participate in the law.
Forks Community Hospital Chief Financial Officer John Sherrett said Tuesday’s vote was unusual because most votes are unanimous.
“It was one of the more interesting discussions we’ve had in quite some time,” Sherrett said.
Lane agreed.
“We had a good, healthy discussion. Everybody present had an opportunity to express their opinion. I was clearly in the minority.”
Phone calls to commissioners Lawley and Anderson seeking comment were not returned.
Dictates of law
Under the law, competent adults with six months or less to live can submit a series of formal requests for life-ending medication prescribed by a doctor. The medication must be self-administered.
If a doctor believes the patient has a mental health condition, the medication cannot be dispensed.
“I felt the safeguards included in the initiative were sufficient to protect it from abuse,” Lane said.
A health-care institution can prohibit participation on its premises, but cannot stop an individual doctor from participating elsewhere.
Non-participating hospitals must provide information to patients who ask for it.
Modeled on Oregon’s 1998 Death with Dignity law, I-1000 was a approved by 58 percent of Washington voters in the November election.
Support was widespread on the North Olympic Peninsula.
In Jefferson County, 72 percent approved the initiative. Clallam County voters approved it by 61 percent.
“The voters expressed their endorsement of the concept,” Lane said.
Another reason he favored participation is the strong sense of self-determination and independence in a rural area like Forks.
“I think it ultimately turned into a decision based on what people perceived as the best interest of the hospital,” he said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
