Important Note: Following the 2025 General Legislative Session, the Department of Health (DOH) made the difficult decision to pause the annual statistical reporting for the Death with Dignity program. This decision is part of broader budget reductions and reflects our need to prioritize patient safety and other critical public health responsibilities.
- A final report for the 2024 data year will be published.
- Access to the end-of-life care available under the Death with Dignity Act remains in place. DOH is not involved in patient or healthcare provider participation.
If you are a medical practitioner or pharmacist, continue to submit the patient and provider forms as directed by RCW 70.245.150 and WAC 246-978-020. The forms are available at Forms for Patients and Providers | Washington State Department of Health
The Law
The Washington Death with Dignity Act, Initiative 1000, passed on November 4, 2008, and went into effect on March 5, 2009. This Act allows some terminally ill patients to request and use lethal doses of medication from qualified medical providers as part of their end-of-life care. A terminally ill patient must be eligible to use the Death with Dignity end-of-life care:
- 18 years of age or older
- Can make and communicate an informed decision to health care providers
- Diagnosed with an incurable and irreversible disease that will produce death within six months
- Washington resident
The Law and Regulation
- Washington Death with Dignity Act- Chapter 70.245 RCW (statute)
- Death with Dignity Act Requirements- Chapter 246-978 WAC (regulation)
Our Role in Death with Dignity
The Department of Health collects patient and provider forms to create a statistical report each year. The information we collect is not a public record and is released only as summarized data in the Death with Dignity Act Annual Reports.
To make the submission of patient and provider forms easier, the Department of Health offers online access to blank forms and a submission portal.
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Visit the Death with Dignity Act forms for patients and providers page for more information about forms and requirements.
Electronic Submission of Forms
Submit your Death With Dignity forms
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit the Frequently Asked Questions about the Death with Dignity Act.
End-of-Life Resources
Making decisions about end-of-life care can be a challenging process. Talk with your health care provider or contact an end-of-life resource about the care available under the Death with Dignity Act. The Department of Health is not able to help patients or healthcare providers make decisions about participation or eligibility. Also, we are not authorized to change or remove any requirements of the Act.
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You can find information about end-of-life care for patients and families on the Washington State Hospital Association and End of Life Washington websites.
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You can find information about a specific hospital’s end-of-life care services on the Hospital Policies website.
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Additional information regarding Physician's Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST), Advanced Directives, and other end-of-life resources is on the Washington State Medical Association's website.
Questions
Healthcare providers, if you have questions about the Death with Dignity forms or requirements, contact DeathwithDignity@DOH.WA.GOV.