King supports Death with Dignity bill

RENEE DIAZ

WASHINGTON STATE JOURNAL

Terminally ill patients seeking help to end their lives with the aid of a physician shouldn’t have to wait so long to get approval from the state.

That’s the position of Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, who said he intends to eliminate barriers to care without removing safeguards in the Washington Death with Dignity Act. His Senate-passed proposal is Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5179.

“One in four people do not live long enough to survive the 15-day waiting period (currently in the law). We talked to people who asked for access to this law as soon as they become eligible and are still unable to complete the process,” said Cassandra Sutherland, client services manager for the End of Life Washington.

ESSB 5179 reduces the required 15-day waiting period to seven days and eliminates the 48-hour waiting period for the written request. It also allows the drugs to be delivered or mailed. To qualify for the act, patients must be mentally competent, residents of Washington, and expected to live six months or less. Two physicians must approve the application. Lastly, patients must be able to self-administer the drug themselves. Pedersen’s bill also allows registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants to administer the program. Under the act, the attending physician must deliver the prescription personally, to pharmacists, or by mail.

“I really believe that this bill is going to help people and help families in our state who are wrestling with very difficult ends to life,” Pedersen said.

The vote on the changes was split 28 to 20 in the Senate.

Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor, said when he was a senior in high school he sat with his uncle while he was dying and told him he loved him. Although incoherent for a week, his uncle, in a moment of clarity, told Muzzall he loved him back. His uncle passed away the next night.

“It isn’t about taking it away. It’s about honoring the requests of the voters of the state of Washington, and I think that is what’s important. I think having a second thought, having sideboards, having that last moment to decide is important. I know in my life those last moments have, as I said, been pivotal to me.” Muzzall voted against the bill.

Currently, to receive a prescription for the lifeending medication, patients must make an oral and a written request and reiterate the verbal request at least 15 days after making the initial request. The physician must offer the patient an opportunity to rescind the request when they make their second oral request and notify them, they can revoke it anytime.

“The biggest concern I’ve had was overriding the seven days. I didn’t feel like that was appropriate,” said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima. “I thought about this, I thought about it very hard. I’ve listened to every person that wanted to come and talk to me about this, from doctors to everyday people. I still believe this is the right thing to do. I still support this bill.”

Proposed bill would require sex trafficking education in schools

ALEXANDRIA OSBORNE

WASHINGTON STATE JOURNAL

Sex traffickers often manipulate their victims with lies or threats and force them to participate in sexual acts, and the most vulnerable victims are between the ages of 12 and 18.

“Sex trafficking is rampant, indiscriminate, and insidious, especially among youth, but it’s rarely thought of as such,” said Ria Bahadur, a member of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council at Eastside Preparatory School. “I like to believe humans are good people, and I like to believe when given the right education, we’re stronger and smarter than any pimp out there,” she said.

To make children stronger and more aware, Bahadur helped shape a bill sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson R-Seattle that is now moving through the state Legislature. The bill requires school districts to provide education on sex trafficking and identification at least once between seventh and 12th grades. The bill was approved in the Senate and now moves to the House. The instruction would need to be implemented by the 2024-25 school year and can be a standalone course or integrated into an existing relevant course.

It would need to include reporting systems and basic training to determine if an individual is at risk of being a victim or is already a victim of sex trafficking.

Wilson said Washington State is the sixth largest area for sex trafficking in the country, and over 45 percent of victims are minors in K-12 schools.

“Any time we can do anything that looks at prevention, it’s the most important thing we can do, especially as we’re talking about our kids and our families,” she said.

“I believe that widespread, intersectional, accurate, and actionable sex trafficking education is a priceless component of future mitigation for this crime,” Bahadur said. “It’s always better to be safe than to be sorry, but you have to do that with the right information.”

SB 5355 is not the fi rst bill heard in the Legislature relating to sex trafficking. Another bill helps sex trafficked victims heal, but SB 5355 could help keep those individuals from being harmed in the fi rst place, Wilson said.

The Washington State Journal is a non-profit news website funded by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org.

FINLAND from page A1

Currently, Finland has channeled one million dollars in humanitarian assistance through the United Nations Refugee Agency to support Ukrainians who have fled to Moldova, according to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

In 2021 Washington Lieutenant Gov. Denny Heck signed a Memorandum of Understanding to begin a partnership on technological research, port modernization, clean energy and transportation, and sustainable forestry. The agreement remains in effect through 2026.

Later in the day, Inslee and Niinistö further discussed their partnership and their efforts on climate change and supporting Ukrainian refugees.

“We have two crises right now that pretty much have united the U.S. with Finland. It is that we are in a climate crisis. We are appreciative of Finland’s efforts to decarbonize its economy and help decarbonize the world economy,” Inslee said.

Last year, Inslee visited

BOOKS from page A1

Anyone interested in FOGL can attend their meetings that are open to the public. Interested parties can also contact the Goldendale Community Library for information. “Our Friends group is amazing, so hard working and we appreciate all that they do,” said Goldendale Community Library Branch Manager Terra McLeod.

EFSEC from page A1

“Subsequent to the informational meeting, EFSEC will conduct a land use hearing. A notice will be sent to you when it is scheduled and added to the project email list.”

Finland on a trade mission to the Nordic countries. During the visit, Inslee and the Washington state delegation discussed Finland’s strategy to eliminate waste with Finnish officials.

Finland made a promise to be carbon-neutral by 2035 and to eliminate all waste by 2050. The country uses the circular economy model that involves sharing, reusing, repairing, and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. For example, many companies in Finland are working to convert forest industry waste into new materials such as bioplastics, paperboard, and textiles.

After Washington, Niinistö plans to visit Palo Alto, California; Washington D.C.; and at the end of the tour the Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Washington State Journal is a non-profit news website funded by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org.

“With the funds they raise, we work to provide programs that appeal to everyone in our community, and for all ages. As we move forward, our goal is to provide regular professional performers and maker/art workshops throughout the year. We are always happy to hear what people want to see as well.”

Klickitat County Commissioner Lori Zoller was expected to be named as the representative to EFSEC at yesterday’s commissioners’ meeting.