Death with Dignity

Image from article in current Horizons magazine

Death with Dignity
by Anitra Kitts

A little over a year ago, a friend and Presbyterian minister, sent me an email from across the country. “My mother-in-law has been diagnosed with terminal cancer,” he wrote. “You’re from Oregon; what can you tell me about the assisted suicide law out there?”

As I read his note, my mind jumped back to 1994, when I first ran for public office, the same year Oregon voters first were asked to consider the citizen-sponsored Death with Dignity Act. The text of the initiative on the ballot was simple, but the implications profound.

Anitra Kitts is a former member of the Oregon House of Representatives (1995–2000) and a recent graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary, where she earned a Master of Divinity degree. While in seminary, Anitra served as a volunteer chaplain at Marin General and Novato Community Hospitals.

Illustration of "Myths of Silken Straw" mixed media by Yuko Ishii

Other Articles Online This Issue


What are the circumstances that lead some people to pursue Death with Dignity? What are the moral and ethical implications of doing so? Find out more about this topic by reading the full text of this article in the March/April 2007 issue of Horizons.	Death with Dignity by Anitra Kitts A little over a year ago, a friend and Presbyterian minister, sent me an email from across the country. “My mother-in-law has been diagnosed with terminal cancer,” he wrote. “You’re from Oregon; what can you tell me about the assisted suicide law out there?” As I read his note, my mind jumped back to 1994, when I first ran for public office, the same year Oregon voters first were asked to consider the citizen-sponsored Death with Dignity Act. The text of the initiative on the ballot was simple, but the implications profound. *Anitra Kitts* is a former member of the Oregon House of Representatives (1995–2000) and a recent graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary, where she earned a Master of Divinity degree. While in seminary, Anitra served as a volunteer chaplain at Marin General and Novato Community Hospitals. Illustration of "Myths of Silken Straw" mixed media by Yuko Ishii Other Articles Online This Issue Too Close for Comfort Psalms of Lament Preparing for a Death in the Family Death with Dignity Animals Are People, Too Installation Service for Presbyterian Women Dispatch from Forbearance Unconventional Grace Nurturing Our Faith Supporting Mission Mosaic Health Connections	Current Issue March/April 2007 About This Issue Features PW Resources Departments FREE Resource Mar/Apr Index How to Use In Our Next Issue Items underlined can be seen in this Web site, all others appear in the March/April 2007 (HZN-07-210) issue of Horizons magazine. to Horizons, call 800/524-2612 or this issue ($4 plus shipping/handling)

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