History
End of Life Washington 2015-2025
2015
In October of 2015, the board of Compassion & Choices of Washington changed our name to End of Life Washington. It was a natural evolution for us to end our affiliate status, yet remain partners in the larger aid in dying movement.
2016
A major move occurred in February from the Zeek’s Pizza Building at 401 Denny Way in Seattle to the third floor of the historic King County Medical Society building at 200 Broadway.
Kathy Sparkman was hired in February as the Development Director.
In April the position of Executive Director was accepted by Sally McLaughlin.
Two name changes occurred in 2016: Client Support Volunteer (CSV) became Volunteer Client Adviser (VCA), and Volunteer Medical Director (VMD) was changed to Volunteer Medical Adviser (VMA). These changes helped to clarify the very important work of the people who serve in these capacities.
2017
In November, EOLWA created “My Instructions for Oral Feeding and Drinking.” This document provided support to those who wish not to be fed or hydrated should they face advanced dementia.
In December, EOLWA launched the “Death with Dignity Providers Network,” a by-invitation-only online site for physicians, psychologists, pharmacists, nurses, social workers, and others working with DWD patients. The site features all relevant documents and guidelines, as well as a form for discussion of pertinent issues regarding access and implementation of Washington State’s Death with Dignity Act.
2018
The Public Policy and Law Committee was created, composed mainly of Board lawyers and other volunteers, our Executive Director, and our paid Lobbyist, also a lawyer. The committee advises and recommends to the Board on all legislative, legal, and public policy issues.
We moved our offices from Seattle to Mercer Island.
2019
We began consideration of ways to improve the Death with Dignity Act, without opening it up to dangerous changes recommended by our opposition. We worked with Representative Skyler Rude from Walla Walla on possible legislative fixes such as shortening the 15 day waiting period, permitting Nurse Practitioners and Physician’s Assistants to diagnose and prescribe, and allowing mailing of medications.
2020
In April, as the pandemic grew, Judy Kinney was hired as Executive Director. We struggled to continue to help clients during the pandemic, often with virtual VCA and medical visits. Our entire staff began working remotely and Board and other meetings were held via Zoom.
Despite the limitations created by the pandemic, with a significant one-time financial donation, we greatly expanded our staff and our services. The Board decided to devote resources to improving our infrastructure. Paid staff was increased from two or three in most years to eight positions, including a new operations manager, communications manager, education coordinator, and others. We purchased new software to manage and track our client services as well as office and financial services. We deposited reserve funds in a professionally managed account. 
Along with other organizations, we were successful in encouraging the Legislature to pass the Protecting Patient Care Act (PPCA), providing for protections for employees of religiously restrictive organizations who want to inform their patients about the Death with Dignity Act.
The Board issued a position statement supporting legalization of psilocybin for use with people experiencing anxiety and/or depression at the end of life. A Board member, Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, with experience in palliative care, helped us draft the statement.
2021
A new educational program, End of Life Ready, was created to inform Washingtonians about all of their end of life options, including Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED), palliative care, and stopping treatment. The program also informed people about planning for dying with Advance Directives, Health Care Agents, and other ways to achieve a good death. Volunteers, called Ambassadors, were trained to give presentations at libraries; retirement homes; hospices; social worker, nursing, and attorney meetings; and to any organization that requested information. During the pandemic, almost all presentations were via Zoom. We continue to offer End of Life Ready sessions on an ongoing basis; registration is available on our website.
EOLWA collaborated with national Compassion & Choices to draft a bill to amend the Death with Dignity Act, with input from doctors experienced with Medical Aid in Dying (MAID). The bill was introduced in the State House of Representatives, sponsored by Representative Skyler Rude and in the Senate by Senator Jamie Pedersen. After hearings and intense lobbying activity, the bill passed the House but stalled in the Senate.
When Virginia Mason and CHI Franciscan health care systems merged and Virginia Mason physicians were prohibited to participate in Medical Aid in Dying, EOLWA created a program whereby their physicians could volunteer to provide MAID to patients off premises and on their own time, with assistance from EOLWA.
EOLWA filed an amicus friend of the Court brief in federal litigation to legalize the use of psilocybin for dying patients suffering from depression and anxiety.
The organization began the work of gaining a better understanding of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work and asking itself how it could become a more welcoming and safe space for all Washingtonians. We hired specialized consultants to train staff, volunteers and board members and the organization launched its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging working group.
2022
A fund-raising program was created to raise money to hire a paid Medical Director, after years of volunteering in this position by Dr. Bob Wood. The funding program was called “The Visionaries” and sought 3-year pledges of $5,000-$20,000 per year. Dr. Jess Kaan was hired as our first Medical Director, using the funds from the Visionaries donors as well as some of the funds the organization has in reserve.
On April 12, Sheila Cook, one of our founders and a dedicated Board member and volunteer, passed away using MAID on her 91st birthday.
The bill to improve the DWDA was reintroduced in the Legislature, and after more intense lobbying by EOLWA, it again failed to come to a vote on the Senate floor, passing the House once again.
2023
On the third try, the bill to amend the DWDA passed the Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Inslee, to take effect in July. The new law reduced the waiting period from 15 days to 7, authorized Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants to participate in MAID (thereby doubling the number of medical practitioners available to help), authorized mailing of medications, and protected medical practitioners employed by restrictive religious hospitals and clinics who helped with MAID on their own time and off the premises of their employer.
The number of clients seeking help from EOLWA continued to soar to 941 clients in 2023. The number of VCAs and other volunteers grew to over 100 and the number of volunteer medical providers grew to over 40. The demand for End of Life Ready educational presentations increased significantly as well.
2024
Alex Gramps and Cassandra Sutherland became Co-Executive Directors. A Development and Communications Director was hired to increase our ability to support ever-expanding programs, particularly our Client Services.
EOLWA was awarded state funding for the first time in its history – and the first time a MAID organization in the US has received public funding.
Knowing that the number of clients would continue to increase as more people learned about their options and as more medical personnel were prepared to help, we realized that EOLWA could not sustain quality services with a mainly volunteer program. Consequently, under the direction of our new EDS, we began encouraging hospices across the state to partner with EOLWA to help patients choosing MAID.
2025
EOLWA created a “hospice map“ for the website, identifying which Washington counties had hospice programs supporting MAID and providing more details about those hospices. We have continued to expand the number of hospices willing to work with EOLWA to support MAID for their patients.
We worked with the Washington state department of health creating a letter to all retirement facilities, including adult family homes, throughout the state, advising that they are legally required to allow residence to access MA ID on their premises. Our now full-time medical director coordinated this work with the support of the public policy and law committee.
EOLW filed an amicus brief in an Oregon case supporting the need for Oregon government involvement in proposed hospital mergers in that state. We continue to advocate for the same involvement in Washington.
The number of EOLWA clients, telephone and website contacts, speaking engagements, and the number of volunteers continued to grow exponentially throughout the year.
Compassion and Choices 2005-15
2005
The merger was finalized, naming the unified organization Compassion & Choices (C&C). Compassion & Choices of Washington (C&C WA) remained an affiliate of the national organization.
C&C WA created a new version of the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Health Care Directive (Living Will). This form incorporated both documents and was more detailed than the Washington State version.
2007
With the success of Oregon’s Death With Dignity law, discussion began in Washington to work on another Death With Dignity campaign.
2008
The signature gathering process began, and there were enough valid signatures to qualify Initiative 1000 for the ballot. On November 4 voters of Washington passed I-1000 by a large margin, allowing terminally ill people in our state to obtain a physician’s prescription to end life in a humane and dignified manner.
A bill developed by C&C, the Right to Know End-of-Life Choices Act, passed in California.
2009
C&C hosted a symposium on end-of-life advocacy in Washington, D.C. Two days of discussion, exploration, and study provided an opportunity to promote principles and practices that focused on patients.
The second Death With Dignity Act (DWDA) in the nation was implemented by the Washington State Department of Health and became effective on March 5, 2009. Due to interest statewide, C&C WA set a record for presentations given and exhibits provided–more than 60 events–for community and church groups, retirement and assisted living facilities, and professional medical and legal organizations. Our presenters were also featured at staff trainings; continuing education presentations; and conferences for social workers, nurses, physicians, and attorneys. Midge Levy volunteered to lead this Community Education group.
CID WA saved the Living Will Registry. Unfortunately, due to the State’s revenue shortfall, funding for the Registry was eliminated during the 2010 legislative session.
2010
Since the Washington Death With Dignity Act passed in 2008, C&C WA has been the main advocate for the law. About 95 percent of clients looking for information contact us, and nearly all of those who elect to use the law do so with the support of our Client Support Volunteers (CSV).
The caseload for our Client Support Volunteers tripled in 2010. The heart of our program is our free client support services. We have trained new CSV’s, and they are now in place in a number of new regions across the state.
We improved the information on our website (www.CompassionWA.org) and revised the DWDA educational materials for patients and participating physicians.
C&C lobbied the legislature about the following issues: Safe Medicine Return bill, Pain Management bill, and retaining the Hospice Medicaid benefit.
We created documents and letters to help people communicate and uphold their end-of-life wishes, including the following: “Letter to My Physician Concerning My Beliefs About End-of-Life Care,” “Directive Regarding Health Care Institution Refusing to Honor My Health Care Choices,” and “Health Care Decisions IQ Test.”
2011
C&C continued to be involved with other state agencies, clarifying information about the law for citizens of Washington.
We requested and received a letter from the Washington Department of Health clarifying that hospice social workers have a protected right to provide basic information about the option of Death With Dignity to their patients.
Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) issued a “Dear Administrator” letter to all owners and administrators of long-term care facilities in Washington which clarified residents’ right to receive information about hospice, DWD, etc.
C&C WA mitigated Peace-Health takeover of Southwest Medical Center (SMC) and its affiliated hospice to ensure that SMC patients would receive referrals when requesting information about the option of Death With Dignity.
A revision of our Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Health Care Directive was completed in 2011.
2012
We created an Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia Mental Health Advance Directive. This form will enable people newly diagnosed with these diseases to document their wishes–while they are still able–about nonmedical issues regarding future care, such as when to stop driving, what to do when they can no longer live at home, and instructions about care and treatment.
In May Kathryn Jans was hired as Development Director. She served in this position until January 31, 2016.
2014
In comparing Health Department statistics with ours, it was noted that 96 percent of patients using the Death With Dignity law contacted Compassion & Choices of Washington and used our Client Support Volunteer services.
As the work of the CSVs increased, a new staff position was created. Beth Glennon was hired as the Client Support Coordinator. For 15 years, from 1993 to 2008, this volunteer position was held by Sheila Cook. Gretchen DeRoche volunteered for this position from 2008 to 2014.
2015
Sally McLaughlin was hired in February to serve as Community Education Director.
Executive Director Robb Miller resigned in April, after serving in this capacity for 15 years. John Eric Rolfstad was hired as the new Executive Director of Compassion & Choices of Washington. He resigned in November.
In December Sally McLaughlin was asked to be the Interim Executive Director, in addition to her other responsibilities.
History of Compassion in Dying 1993-2004
1993
A press conference was held in April to announce Compassion in Dying (CID), the new organization to provide support and expand choices for terminally ill adults in Washington State. Eleven members of the Washington Hemlock board were founding members: Vicki Bauch, Donald Cook, Sheila Cook, Barbara Dority, Susan Dunshee, Eleanor Hempleman, Ralph Mero, Laurie Ness, Pat Nugent, June Roberts, and William Wright. Ralph Mero was the first Executive Director; Barbara Dority, President; Donald Cook, Treasurer. Most of us stayed on both boards until the work of CID increased. We had weekly meetings to develop Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Guidelines and Safeguards.
Toward the end of 1993, Compassion, with the help of attorney Kathryn Tucker, filed the first lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of state law which prohibited doctors from providing assistance at the end of life. In 1997 this case eventually went to the U.S. Supreme Court. The legal work took up so much of our board meetings that we created committees to do the everyday work. One of the committees came to be known as the Case Management Team, with trained volunteers doing the “hands-on” work of Compassion. The Case Managers guided clients through the process and, if asked, were willing to be present at the time of death.
Eventually, we expanded the Guidelines and Safeguards. Many of the phone calls were from patients who were not yet terminally ill, but who wanted information about end-of-life options so they would be prepared if their illnesses became terminal.
1994
CID developed and filed two federal lawsuits (Glucksberg v. Washington, and Quill v. New York), asserting that a mentally competent, terminally ill patient had the right protected by the Constitution’s guarantee of liberty, privacy, and equal protection to choose aid in dying. The plaintiffs in both suits were represented by attorney Kathryn Tucker, who later became Director of Legal Services for Compassion in Dying.
In the meantime, citizens of Oregon developed Measure 16, the Oregon Death With Dignity Act. Voters approved the measure by a narrow margin. A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order, so the measure was on hold for a long time, eventually requiring another election in 1997.
1996
Separate opinions from two appeals courts found that the U.S. Constitution does protect the choice of a competent, terminally ill patient to choose aid in dying. New York and Washington filed for review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
In summer of 1996, Ralph Mero moved to Massachusetts. Barbara Coombs Lee from Portland, Oregon, became the interim Executive Director.
1997
In Glucksberg v. Washington and Quill v. New York, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to find federal constitutional protection for aid in dying, referring the issue to the states, but leaving the possibility open that it might do so in the future.
In Seattle, the board of Compassion in Dying of Washington formed Compassion in Dying Federation (CID FED). Washington became the first affiliate of this new national organization. Many CID WA board members were also the first board members of the Federation, resigning those positions as new members were recruited nationwide. This allowed CID WA to concentrate on clients who wanted choice at the end of life. We became a model for other affiliates around the country, such as Oregon and New York.
The Oregon Death With Dignity Act finally went into effect after Measure 51 won by a large margin.
1998
On January 2, CID FED moved the national headquarters to Portland, Oregon. Barbara Coombs Lee was the first Executive Director. Michael Bonacci was hired as Executive Director of CID WA.
The National Hemlock Society created Caring Friends, providing direct client services to terminally ill adults throughout the country. Washington Hemlock continued to refer clients to CID WA, since the two organizations shared an office and worked closely together.
2000
In April Compassion in Dying of Washington hired Robb Miller as Executive Director.
2001
CID FED assisted a California family in bringing the first case in the nation to claim that failure to treat pain adequately constituted elder abuse. CID FED also sponsored legislative bill AB487, making California the first state to require physicians to receive education in pain treatment, in order to retain their license to practice.
2003
After much debate about the use of the name Hemlock, The Hemlock Society USA changed its name to End of Life Choices. The Washington Hemlock chapter changed its name accordingly.
2004
Because their missions were becoming more similar, discussions began concerning unifying Compassion in Dying Federation and End of Life Choices, including their Client Services and Caring Friends programs.
Hemlock Chapter 1988-92
1988
Hemlock Chapter of Washington State was founded in Seattle. Ralph Mero was the Executive Director. Soon after, discussions began regarding the AIDS epidemic. Many young men were dying alone and in pain.
1990
Hemlock Chapter formed Washington Citizens for Death With Dignity to run the campaign for Initiative 119, an aid-in-dying measure which would allow qualified patients to request their physicians to help them die with medication or by injection. Kirk Robinson was president of this new organization.
1991
After months of signature gathering, Initiative 119 qualified to be on the Washington State ballot. Due to the actions of Kevorkian and a negative response from C. Everett Koop, surgeon general, just before the election, voters narrowly defeated the measure. No Washington initiative had ever received more attention from state, national, and world press than Initiative 119.
1992
Spurred on by the loss, and knowing many qualified people were still dying alone and in pain, the Washington Hemlock board members began to discuss expanding the mission beyond educational activities. This included helping terminally ill adults with end-of-life choices. We wanted to do this within the Hemlock organization, which had chapters all over the country.
In November John Pridonoff, Executive Director of the National Hemlock Society, and Sidney Rosoff, President, met with the Washington Hemlock board. After discussing the issue, they told us this was beyond the scope of Hemlock’s educational mission, and we could not directly participate in helping people end their lives. If we chose to go ahead with our plans, we would have to form another organization.