ESSB 5179 – Protecting Access to MAID Passes!

We Did It! The State House of Representatives passed ESSB 5179, our bill to improve access to the Death with Dignity Act, with a vote of 53-43. With this vote, critical improvements to the law are on their way to Governor Jay Inslee’s desk for his signature.  These...

Finding Peace with VSED

by Jennifer Dice, Volunteer Storyteller In 2019, Beverly Wilson and her husband Terry were enjoying a happy and active life together. The couple had been married for nearly 30 years, and Bev knew Terry as a kind and generous person – a gentleman with a calm...

The Long Reach of One Promise

by Catherine Carey, Volunteer Storyteller Nancy and Randy a year after his diagnosis. Many people worked very hard to get Washington State’s Death with Dignity (DWD) Act passed into law; one was Nancy Niedzielski. As Nancy’s husband, Randy, was dying, she promised him...

Letters from Leadership

Fall, for me, is a time of reflection – the days shorten, the temperatures cool, and I find myself experiencing more gratitude. As this new season approaches, I am deeply grateful for the community of our End of Life Washington supporters, our strong staff, our...

Guiding Clients to Find Solace at the End-of-Life

by EOLWA Staff At 74 years old, Carl Shutoff has lost his fair share of loved ones. Ten years ago, before becoming a Volunteer Client Advisor (VCA) with End of Life Washington (EOLWA), Carl witnessed the death of his younger brother Harry. Harry had been sick for some...

Same Mission Through Transition

by Rebecca Lane, Interim Executive Director    I’ve been in the nonprofit sector for over 35 years as a social worker, executive director, development and fundraising director, and now interim executive director. My role as Interim Executive Director is to guide an...

Advancing Knowledge on Medical Aid-in-Dying

by EOLWA Staff Over 25 people from the End of Life Washington community attended the National Clinicians Conference on Medical Aid in Dying (NCCMAID) held in Portland, Oregon, on February 17-18. This conference, which first occurred in 2020, originates from the need...

Achieving a Sustainable Future Together

by Teresa Chiftis, Current President of EOLWA Board of Directors End of Life Washington Community Members: Since I wrote to you in our last newsletter, a lot has happened – both from an organizational perspective and for the landscape of Washington’s Medical Aid in...

Crossing the Legislative Finish Line

by Nancy Sapiro, JD, EOLWA Lobbyist We are thrilled to report that Senate Bill 5179, which will increase access to our state’s Death with Dignity Law (DWD), recently passed through both houses of the WA State Legislature and has now been signed into law by Governor...

Dr. Leonard Cobb, co-founder of WA’s first Medic One, dies at 96

by Elise Takahama for The Seattle Times It’s difficult to pinpoint how Dr. Leonard Cobb came up with the idea to train firefighters in emergency medical care, but friends and family believe one particular afternoon more than 60 years ago played a role. Cobb and his...