During the recent hearing on assisted suicide, I mentioned that there had been a significant increase in other suicides in Oregon after assisted suicide legalization. This is consistent with a suicide contagion (legalizing and thereby normalizing one type of suicide encouraged other suicides).
Of course, a correlation does not prove causation.
However, as set forth below, there is a significant statistical correlation between the two events. Moreover, the financial cost to Oregon from the other suicides is enormous. Please see the data below:
- Oregon's assisted suicide act went into effect in 1997. See top line at this link: http://public.health.oregon.gov/ProviderPartnerResources/EvaluationResearch/DeathwithDignityAct/Pages/index.aspx
- By 2000, Oregon's regular suicide rate was "increasing significantly" See http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/news/2010news/2010-0909a.pdf ("After decreasing in the 1990s, suicide rates have been increasing significantly since 2000")
- In 2010, Oregon's other suicide rate was 35% above the national average. http://maasdocuments.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/oregon-suicide-info_001.pdf
- In 2012, the most recent report, Oregon's other suicide rate was 41% above the national average. http://choiceisanillusion.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/oregon-suicide-report-2012-through-2010-pdf.pdf Moreover, this report, page 3, states:
- "Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Oregonians ages 15-34, and the 8th leading cause of death among all ages in Oregon. The cost of suicide is enormous. In 2010 alone, self-inflicted injury hospitalization changes exceeded 41 million dollars; and the estimate of total lifetime cost of suicide in Oregon was over 680 million dollars. The loss to families and communities broadens the impact of each death."
- "Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Oregonians ages 15-34, and the 8th leading cause of death among all ages in Oregon. The cost of suicide is enormous. In 2010 alone, self-inflicted injury hospitalization changes exceeded 41 million dollars; and the estimate of total lifetime cost of suicide in Oregon was over 680 million dollars. The loss to families and communities broadens the impact of each death."
- The report, itself, does not address the possible influence of assisted suicide legalization. But, again, the significant statistical correlation is there. The cost to the state is enormous.
Thank you.
Margaret Dore
Law Offices of Margaret K. Dore, P.S.
www.margaretdore.com
www.choiceillusion.org
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