by Barbara Dority

About the author: Barbara Dority is president of Humanists of Washington and vice president of the Hemlock Society of Washington State, an organization that seeks to legalize physician-assisted suicide.

In early 1996, right-to-die advocates began to see the results of 25 years of social, political, and legal struggle. Looking back at my July/August 1993 Humanist column announcing the formation of Compassion in Dying, I realize the incredible progress which has been made. Serving at the time as the organization’s founding president, I wrote of our deliberations, our plans, and our hopes. But none of us could have foreseen the recent landmark events that have resulted from the dedicated efforts of educational organizations, legal advocates, tireless volunteers, generous financial supporters, and courageous individuals within the death-with-dignity movement.

A Victory in Court

A major victory has...