Compassion & Choices of Washington Client Services

If you or someone you care about is approaching the end of life, Compassion & Choices of Washington (C&C) can help you manage some of the most intimate and important decisions you will ever make.

C&C provides client services to those who are facing the end of life and desire a humane, peaceful death. Our volunteer case managers help patients explore their options for pain management, comfort care, and hospice. For terminally ill patients who qualify under our guidelines and safeguards, we will provide information on ways to avoid unnecessary or intolerable suffering at the end of life, including advice on talking to your doctor or other health care providers as well as options for controlling the timing and manner of death.

We encourage patients to contact C&C in the early stages of illness. This gives our volunteers time to establish a relationship and to discuss all of the important questions surrounding your end-of-life choices. A case manager can come to your home and talk with you at your convenience. All C&C services are free of charge, including client services.

To request case management, call our office at 206-256-1636 or 1-877-222-2816, toll-free.

Note: C&C does not provide or administer the means to hasten death for any patient. We offer information, support and, if requested, personal presence at the death of a qualified client

Guidelines and Safeguards

We follow strict guidelines and safeguards adopted by our Board of Directors and approved by C&C national client services team.

Supportive counseling and information for clients and their loved ones:

• We provide information and education about all end-of-life options, including hospice, pain and symptom management, and comfort care.
• We affirm the right of terminally ill, mentally competent adults to choose how and when their lives will end, according to their values and beliefs.
• We encourage clients to explore their rights and responsibilities for end-of-life care and to communicate these choices through advance directives.

Medical Consultation for Health Care Providers

• Physician-to-physician consultation about end-of-life alternatives
• Assistance with communication between patient and provider
• Sharing of pharmacological protocols and procedures

The Option of Hastening Death

If an individual meets the following guidelines, we are able to provide additional consultation, support,and, if the client requests, we will be present at a hastened death.

• Only terminally ill, mentally competent adults are eligible. Alternatives to hastening death must seriously be considered.
• Assistance for aid-in-dying must be requested three times in writing, or on video tape, with established waiting periods between each request.
• Advance Directives, Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, or requests by anyone other then the terminally ill patient are not accepted.
• Requests may not arise from inadequate care or pain management, lack of health insurance coverage, or other economic concerns.
• A consulting physician must verify the terminal diagnosis. If indicated, a mental health evaluation is requested.
• The means of hastening death must be obtained and self-administered by the terminally ill patient.

If our presence is requested, two C&C of Washington case managers will attend the hastened death. Ongoing emotional and bereavement support is available to loved ones.

All requests, records, and identities of clients, loved ones, and care providers are kept strictly confidential.