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First legal suicide in Washington
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A Washington state woman ended her life under a new law
Linda Fleming ended her life yesterday night. At 66, she became the first person to legally kill herself under Washington state's new assisted suicide law, which was approved by voters in November 2008.
Under the new law, modeled after Oregon's Death With Dignity Act, physicians are legally allowed to prescribe a deadly dose of medication to patients in their last six months of life, but the patients must take the dose themselves. The law also requires patients to confirm their desire to end their life both verbally and in writing.
Fleming wrote, "The pain became unbearable, and it was important to me to be conscious, clear-minded and alert at the time of my death."
Although six prescriptions for lethal doses of medication have been approved in recent months, it is thought that Fleming is the first to choose to end her life.
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