Washington state to stop reporting numbers of people dying by assisted suicide

Washington state will no longer publish annual data on how many people die by assisted suicide, a move critics warn could open the door to abuse and erode public trust.

The Washington State Department of Health said it has suspended its annual report on the state’s assisted suicide program because of staffing and budget limitations, despite a legal requirement to publish the data.

The report has included demographic breakdowns, patient reasons for choosing death and prescription data since the state’s Death with Dignity Act took effect in 2009.

Medical professionals and disability advocates oppose the change, arguing the lack of transparency undermines safeguards for vulnerable people.

“An accountable assisted suicide regime requires oversight,” Dr. Ramona Coelho, a family medicine physician in London, Ontario, told the Telegraph. “Assisted suicide is not a medical decision; it is a legal act, with specific eligibility criteria and procedural safeguards that must be met. A lack of reporting creates serious risks of abuse, negligence, and erosion of public trust.”

Assisted suicide has become increasingly common in Washington state.

In 2023, 524 Washington residents died through assisted suicide – up more than 500% since the law took effect. Most were between 75 and 84 years old, but 28 people were under 54 years old.

The law was expanded in 2023 to cut the waiting period for lethal drugs from 15 to seven days and to let nurses prescribe and mail the life-ending drugs.

“When the state plays a role in the premature deaths of its own citizens, transparency isn’t optional – it’s essential,” said Rebecca Vachon, director of health at Cardus. “So, this isn’t just a data issue; it’s a question of life and death. If anything needs to be cut, it’s assisted suicide itself – not the public’s right to know.”

The state health department’s $225,000 program budget was “insufficient to deliver data and reporting that reflect the department’s commitment to data usability and transparency,” according to a policy document.

Ending the report eliminates a key layer of accountability, warned Jessica Rodgers, director at the Patients Rights’ Action Fund.

“This data, which consistently shows patients request lethal drugs for reasons of disability, not wanting to be a burden and concerns around the costs of treatment, is the foundation of accountability,” she said.

“Simply to ignore this provision begs the question of what else is ignored and what abuses remain unreported.”