Report: Death with Dignity Act prescriptions continued rise in 2025

PORTLAND, Ore. — Prescriptions for life-ending medications under Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act continued to climb in 2025, according to new data released by the Oregon Health Authority.

The agency’s 28th annual report shows prescriptions for lethal medications increased about 5%, rising from 609 in 2024 to 637 in 2025. While the growth reflects a steady upward trend, it was far less dramatic than the nearly 29% spike recorded in 2023, which followed a legislative change that removed the state residency requirement.

Deaths from ingesting the prescribed medications have also generally increased over time since Oregon began tracking participation in 1998. However, the report noted a slight decline between 2024 and 2025, with deaths dropping about 5%, from 421 to 400. Health officials cautioned that the 2025 total is likely to rise as additional death certificates are processed and analyzed.

“What we’ve been seeing over the last several years is a steady overall increase in prescriptions and deaths among Death with Dignity Act participants,” said Tom Jeanne, deputy state health officer and epidemiologist at OHA’s Public Health Division.

The report also found that 24 patients, or 6% of those who died in 2025, lived longer than their initial six-month prognosis after receiving a prescription. Eligibility for the law requires patients to be terminally ill with a prognosis of six months or less, at least 18 years old, and capable of making and communicating their own health care decisions.

Out-of-state participation continued to grow. In 2025, 37 prescription recipients — about 6% — lived outside Oregon, up from 24 individuals, or 4%, in 2024.

Demographic trends among participants remained largely consistent. Most were age 65 or older (88%) and white (94%), and half held at least a bachelor’s degree. Cancer remained the most common underlying diagnosis at 61%, followed by neurological diseases (14%) and heart disease (11%).

The majority of participants died at home (80%) and were enrolled in hospice care (92%). All patients with known insurance status had coverage, with 79% enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid and 22% covered by private insurance — unchanged from the previous year.

Patients most frequently cited concerns about loss of autonomy (89%), decreasing ability to participate in enjoyable activities (89%), and loss of dignity (65%) when considering the option.

The report also noted that OHA made no referrals to the Oregon Medical Board in 2025 for failure to comply with reporting requirements.

Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act, enacted on Oct. 27, 1997, allows terminally ill individuals to voluntarily end their lives through self-administered medications prescribed by a physician. State law requires OHA to track participation and publish annual statistical reports.