First legal assisted suicide occurs in Washington

In November 2008, Washington became the second state (Oregon was the first) to authorize physician-assisted suicide.

On May 21, 2009, Linda Fleming (66 years old and a resident of Sequim, Washington) used the new procedure to self-terminate.  Linda was in Stage 4 of pancreatic cancer.

Five other Washington patients have received prescriptions for assisted-suicide drugs but it does not yet appear that they have been used.

See William Yardley, First Death for Washington Assisted-Suicide Law, NY Times, May 23, 2009.