Will Washington join Oregon in authorizing assisted suicide?

On November 4, 2008, Washington voters will decide whether to enacted Initiative 2000, the Washington Death with Dignity Initiative.

A huge battle is being waged between the opposing sides as to whether Washington should become the second state to approve assisted suicide.  Here are some details of the conflict as reported in Ads target Washington voters mulling assisted-suicide law, CNN.com, October 11, 2008:

• Martin Sheen is featured in ads opposing the initiative claiming it is a “dangerous idea.”
• Supporters respond with an ad showing a widow pleading to let individuals who are suffering gain control over their deaths.
• Over $3.5 million has been raised by both sides combined.
• Polls show the initiative winning by 57% to 33% with 10% undecided.
• The biggest opposition is by religious groups, especially the Catholic Church.
• In 1991, Washington voters rejected a similar measure.  A big difference is the patients must self-administer the fatal drugs under the new proposal while doctors could have administered the lethal drugs under the prior proposal.