Right to Die and Death With Dignity Organizations

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Written by Trisha Torrey
Trisha Torrey is a patient empowerment and advocacy consultant. She has written several books about patient advocacy and how to best navigate the healthcare system.
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Trisha Torrey
Updated on July 03, 2019

If you're considering your right to die and death with dignity, there are many organizations you can turn to for education and support. You are not alone in your journey. Most of the organizations focus on two or more of these aspects:

  • Education: Some organizations provide decision-making information and support to patients who have an interest in learning more about their choices. They may also help you learn about ethical arguments both for and against the right to die.
  • How-To: Some organizations help patients learn about how to die, and may even help them make it happen.
  • Civil Rights and the Law: Some of the organizations are more political in nature. They work with both grass-roots organizations and representatives of state and federal governments to pass legislation that either supports or opposes aid in dying. Read more about the legal issues involved in the right to die.
1

Compassion and Choices

This organization, formerly known as The Hemlock Society, offers consultations, assistance, and support. They are also involved in legal defense and lobbying efforts to expand right to die legislation in the U.S. and, to a lesser extent, Canada.

2

The Death With Dignity National Center

According to the Death with Dignity National Center, "The greatest human freedom is to live, and die, according to one's own desires and beliefs. From advance directives to physician-assisted dying, death with dignity is a movement to provide options for the dying to control their own end-of-life care. Death with Dignity National Center is the leader in this movement, successfully establishing, advancing and defending the landmark Oregon and Washington Death with Dignity Acts."

3

Dignitas

Located near Zurich, Switzerland, Dignitas offers counseling and assistance for people who want to understand their death with dignity options, and to help those who have chosen to die to obtain the necessary lethal drugs. They also provide "accompanied suicide."

4

Dying With Dignity Canada

Focusing on right-to-die legislation in the provinces, Dying with Dignity provides decision-making support to Canadians who wish to "choose a gentle death."

5

The Final Exit Network

Volunteers called "exit guides" assist patients who experience “unacceptable suffering by their own definition – not ours.” This organization was founded on the book Final Exit by Derek Humphry. 

6

Patients Rights Council

This group, which was formerly known as the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, opposes right to die legislation because they believe the healthcare industry will promote it to contain costs. "The Patients Rights Council is committed to the principle that you have the right to know all the facts about the critical issues of life, death, and assisted suicide."

7

The Right to Die Society of Canada

This society lobbies for right to die legislature in Canada, educates the public, and helps individuals find the right options for themselves.

8

Worldwide Lists

Organizations that support death with dignity and the right to die can be found through the World Federation of Right to Die Societies. Organizations that are against right to die legislation can be found at Euthanasia.com.

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