COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • MARCH 27, 2019 •
DWD
from A1
Yelle has been given a ter-
minal diagnosis by physicians.
However, the precise timeline
for his demise is unclear, which
makes preparing to initiate the
protocols for killing himself
diffi cult.
Yelle is nearly blind and has
Parkinson’s Disease. He has
also been diagnosed with di-
abetes, suff ers from memory
loss and has serious circulatory
issues. Th ese medical problems
impact Yelle every day and the
severity of the symptoms as-
sociated with these conditions
will only increase as time pass-
es.
Unfortunately, there is no
way to know how or when
these symptoms will become
so diffi cult that Yelle will wish
to avail himself of the option
provided by DWDA to end his
own life.
Th e prospect of a lingering
slide towards senility and loss
of control over bodily func-
tions loom large as he considers
his ultimate demise.
“I do not want to live if I
am senile or if I can’t live with
dignity and I have to be taken
SLSD
from A1
on the board since May 2011
while Settelmeyer was elected
to his seat in 2015.
care of 24/7,” Yelle said. “I don’t
want to have to suff er the hu-
miliation of being toileted and
fed and cleaned up aft er, and
I want to decide when my life
has gotten to the point where I
want it to end.
“Th e way the current law is
written would not let me decide
that.”
Yelle’s medical prognosis
holds no promise of improve-
ment, as all options for recov-
ery or diminishment of his
symptoms have been explored
and rejected as ineff ective. His
uncertainty about the rate of
the decline of his faculties pre-
vents him from utilizing the
protocols currently in place
to assure he has the ability to
decide to die before becoming
completely incapacitated.
Th e law that allows legal,
supervised ingestion of med-
ication to slowly stop an indi-
vidual’s heart from beating is
specifi c and connected to the
timing associated with the ex-
pectation of death. Th ere must
be a diagnosis that gives a pa-
tient six months to live in or-
der to be eligible to receive the
medication necessary to end
one’s life.
Yelle’s prognosis is a slow
decline into senility, and there
is no way of knowing when he
will have only six months to
live. He wants to be able to put
his desires regarding the timing
of his death in place before he
is unable to think or communi-
cate to others his desire to end
his life.
However, Yelle’s situation
is not unique. Aft er receiv-
ing calls and letters from oth-
ers with similar situations, he
started a non-profi t advocacy
group called “End Choices,.”
He has accepted a number of
speaking engagements and giv-
en informational presentations
to seniors and their caregivers
to help with confusion sur-
rounding Death with Dignity
issues.
His non-profi t has received
fi nancial support of thousands
of dollars and dozens have
joined in his eff orts to modify
the current wording in the act.
Yelle’s testimony in Salem
was just one presentation that
was heard by the Health Care
Committee but his was the only
voice raised in support of the
bill. Yelle reports
Th ere were a number of reli-
giously affi liated organizations
that spoke in opposition to the
bill, primarily to oppose any
legislation that reinforces Ore-
gon’s DWDA.
“ I was the only person repre-
senting senior citizens and dis-
abled that spoke. In fact, I was
the only disabled person that
spoke. Most of the other speak-
ers were from national organi-
zations with lot’s of money at
stake. Th e big three were there,
of course, the Catholic Church,
Right to Die and Compassion-
ate Choices,” Yelle said.” Th ey
spoke ahead of me and none of
the people that spoke against
the bill was disabled or seemed
to care that this will help people
that are dying and are trying to
do so with dignity, I think they
just don’t care because there is a
lot of money to be made keep-
ing people alive, even when
they don’t want to continue
living.”
Th e Death with Dignity Act
(DWDA) allows terminally
ill Oregon residents to obtain
and use prescriptions from
their physicians for self-ad-
ministered, lethal medications.
Under the Act, ending one’s
life in accordance with the law
does not constitute suicide. Th e
DWDA specifi cally prohibits
euthanasia, where a physician
or other person directly ad-
ministers a medication to end
another’s life.
To request a prescription for
lethal medications, the DWDA
requires that a patient must be:
• An adult (18 years of age or
older),
• A resident of Oregon,
• Capable (defi ned as able to
make and communicate health
care decisions), and
• Diagnosed with a terminal
illness that will lead to death
within six months.
Patients meeting these re-
quirements are eligible to re-
quest a prescription for lethal
medication from a licensed
Oregon physician. To receive a
prescription for lethal medica-
tion, the following steps must
be fulfi lled:
• Th e patient must make two
oral requests to his or her phy-
sician, separated by at least 15
days.
• Th e patient must provide
a written request to his or her
physician, signed in the pres-
ence of two witnesses.
• Th e prescribing physician
and a consulting physician
must confi rm the diagnosis and
prognosis.
• Th e prescribing physician
and a consulting physician
must determine whether the
patient is capable.
• If either physician believes
the patient’s judgment is im-
paired by a psychiatric or psy-
chological disorder, the patient
must be referred for a psycho-
logical examination.
• Th e prescribing physician
must inform the patient of fea-
sible alternatives to DWDA, in-
cluding comfort care, hospice
care, and pain control.
• Th e prescribing physician
must request, but may not re-
quire, the patient to notify his
or her next-of-kin of the pre-
scription request.
Yelle made the trip to Salem
in the hope that he would be
able to convince legislators to
support HB 2217, but he realiz-
es that is unlikely, considering
the public relations battle he
is fi ghting with relatively little
money compared to his oppo-
nents.
“I knew this would be hard,
I just never thought so many
people would oppose some-
thing that will help so many
people. I guess that’s what hap-
pens when people care more
about money than other peo-
ple,” Yelle said.
Merlene Martin, elected to
the board in 2011, announced
last year that she was not going
to run for re-election. Dustin
Bengtson will be running un-
opposed for that position. On
Bengtson’s candidate fi ling
form he notes that he currently
works with the US Army Corps
of Engineers and as a volun-
teer around the city and with
the SLSD. A graduate from the
University of Iowa, he states
that he has “experience in bud-
get development and execu-
tion” in addition to personnel,
assets and policy management.
Th e one seat that is being
contested this year is position
seven. Gary Mort is the incum-
bent and was elected to the po-
sition in 2015. Mort, who has a
doctorate degree from the Uni-
versity of California Davis, is a
faculty instructor in the science
department at Lane Communi-
ty College.
Running against Mort is
Demian Schwartz. As stated
in her fi ling, Schwartz, who
has an administrative license
from the University of Oregon,
is a school administrator and
according to LinkedIn serves
as the director at the Eugene
Sudbury School. Th e Sudbury
school is described on its web-
site as a striving to provide a
“democratic education.”
According to past arti-
cles from the Register-Guard,
Schwartz was also involved
with the Blue Mountain School
charter in SLSD that was termi-
nated of its charter in Decem-
ber of 2008 and attempted to
open a similar charter in Pleas-
ant Hill in 2010.
Th e fi nal day for voters to
register to vote is April 30 and
ballots will be mailed on May 2.
Worship
Directory
DRAIN:
HOPE U.M.C.
131 W “A” St. Drain, OR
541-315-1617
Pastor: Lura Kidner-Miesen
Fellowship & Song: 11:30am
Potluck Lunch: 12:00pm
Worship: 12:30pm
COTTAGE GROVE:
6th & Gibbs Church of Christ
195 N. 6th St. • 541-942-3822
10:00am
Christian Education:
Pre-K through 5th
www.6thandgibbs.com
Calvary Baptist Church
77873 S 6th St • 541-942-4290
Pastor: Riley Hendricks
Sunday School: 9:45am
Worship: 11:00am
The Journey: Sunday 5:00pm
Praying Thru Life: Wednesday 6:00pm
Church of Christ
420 Monroe St • 541-942-8565
Sunday Service: 10:30am
Cottage Grove Bible Church
1200 East Quincy Avenue
541-942-4771
Pastor:Bob Singer
Worship 11am
Sunday School:9:45am
AWANA age 3-8th Grade,
Wednesdays Sept-May, 6:30pm
www.cgbible.org
Cottage Grove Faith Center
33761 Row River Rd.
541-942-4851
Lead Pastor: Kevin Pruett
www.cg4.tv
Full Childrenʼs Ministry available
Services: 9:00am & 10:45am
Delight Valley
Church of Christ
33087 Saginaw Rd. East
541-942-7711 • Pastor: Bob Friend
Two Services:
9am - Classic in the Chapel
10:30am - Contemporary in the
Auditorium
First Baptist Church
301 S. 6th st • 541-942-8242
Pastor: David Chhangte
Sunday School 9:30am
Worship Service 11:00am
Youth Wednesday 6:30pm
cgfi rstbaptist.com
9A
Health, Happiness
& Wellness
First Presbyterian Church
3rd and Adams St
541-942-4479
Rev.: Karen Hill
Worship: 10:00am
Sunday School: 10:00am
fpcgrove.com
Seventh-day Adventist Church
820 South 10th Street
541-942-5213
Pastor: Kevin Miller
Bible Study: Saturday, 9:15 am
Worship Service: Saturday, 10:40
Mid-week Service: Wednesday, 1:00
Hope Fellowship
United Pentecostal Church
100 S. Gateway Blvd.
541-942-2061
Pastor: Dave Bragg
Worship: 11:00am Sunday
Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday
www.hopefellowshipupc.com
“FINDING HOPE IN YOUR LIFE”
Trinity Lutheran Church
6th & Quincy • 541-942-2373
Pastor: James L. Markus
Sunday School & Adult Education
9:15am
Sunday Worship 10:30 am
Comm. Kitchen Free Meal Tue & Thur
5:00pm TLC Groups
tlccg.com
Living Faith Assembly
467 S. 10th St. • 541-942-2612
Worship Services Sundays: 9a & 11a
Youth Worship Sundays: 11a (all ages
welcome)
Mondays: 5:30p (6th-12th grades)
United Methodist Church
334 Washington • 541-942-3033
Pastor:Lura Kidner-Miesen
Worship: 10:30am
umcgrove.org
Non-Denominational
Church of Christ
1041 Pennoyer Ave
541-942-8928
Preacher: Tony Martin
Sunday Bible Study:10:00am
Sunday Worship:10:50am & 5:30pm CRESWELL:
Creswell Presbyterian Church
www.pennoyeravecoc.com
75 S 4th S • 541-895-3419
Rev. Seth Wheeler
Old Time Gospel Fellowship
Adult Sunday School 9:15am
103 S. 5th St. • 541-942-4999
Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am
Pastor: Jim Edwards
website www.creswellpres.org
Sunday Service: 10:00am
Join in Traditional Christian Worship
Individual, Family & Couples Therapy
Now Accepting New Clients
For Medication Management Call (503) 860-4216
To Schedule with a Therapist call (541) 514-5013
bridgescommunityhealth.com
Offices in
Eugene &
Cottage Grove
We bill OHP &
Most Commercial
Insurances
South Lane Mental Health
Serving Cottage Grove Since 1988
• Outpatient Counseling for Children, Adults & Couples
• Psychiatric Medication Management
• Crisis Assistance
Dental Health
Delaying going to the Dentist?
Sedation Dentistry is a Dream come True... find out if its for You!
BIRCH AVENUE DENTAL
• Comprehensive General Dentistry
• Advanced Cosmetic Techniques
• Implants
541.942.2471
Park W. McClung, DDS & Tammy L. McClung, DDS
Worship
With Us!
Dr. Bitner D.D.S., P.C.
350 Washington Ave • Cottage Grove
Lumineers
The Most Natural Veneer
(behind International Fitness)
541-942-7934
Dr. Shane Parsons
605 Jefferson Ave.
Cottage Grove
Our Worship Directory is a weekly feature in the
newspaper. If your congregation
would like to be a part of this directory,
contact us today!
S entinel
Bridges Community Health
1325 Birch Avenue, Cottage Grove
St. Andrews Episcopal Church
1301 W. Main • 541-767-9050
Rev. Lawrence Crumb
“Church with the fl ags.”
Worship: Sunday 10:30am
All Welcome
C ottage G rove
Counseling & Mental Health
541-942-2850 • 541-942-3939 • www.slmh.org
“VICTORY” Country Church
913 S. 6th Street • 541-942-5913
Pastor: Barbara Dockery
Worship Service: 10:00am
Message: “WE BELIEVE IN
MIRACLES”
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
and St. Philip Benizi
Catholic Churches
1025. N. 19th St.
541-942-3420
Father John J. Boyle
Holy Mass:
Saturday Vigil – 5:30 PM
Sunday – 10:30 PM
For weekday and Holy Day of
Obligation schedule see website
OLPHCG.net
Confession: 4 PM to 5 PM
Saturdays or by appointment
St. Philip Benizi, Creswell
552 Holbrook Lane
Sunday 8:30 AM
A guide to local businesses committed to helping
our community thrive
541-942-3325
116 N. 6th Street
Cottage Grove, OR
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm
Emergency appts. available daily
New patients welcome
2 Hygienists available • Same friendly and caring staff
Please call for an appointment at 541-942-9171
Pharmacies
BI-MART Pharmacy
OPEN at 9am Mon. - Sat. • Convenient Walk-Up Window
100 Gateway Blvd. • 942-9107