Washington: Death With Dignity

The Yes on I-1000 interest group, supporters of the physician-assisted suicide ballot initiative, are using their substantial cash advantage on advertising this week. They are now on the air with two new television ads and a radio spot.

Both ads highlight the safety of the measure, and look to reassure voters who might be wary of passing the ballot initiative.

Supporters of Initiative 1000, the ballot measure that would legalize assisted suicide in the state for terminally ill patients, are touting the backing of the Washington State Medical Association on the initiative's medical safeguards.

Initiative 1000, the ballot initiative that would allow terminally ill patients the choice to seek life-ending medication, officially qualified for the November ballot Thursday when Secretary of State Sam Reed's office determined they had turned in more than the required 224,800 valid signatures from voters across the state.

"People all over Washington support death with dignity, and we're building momentum daily. We're going to go all the way," said former governor Booth Gardner.

OLYMPIA -

Volunteers and staffers for the I-1000 Death with Dignity campaign gathered on the capitol steps today to turn in 320,000 signatures in support of their cause, nearly 100,000 more than the 224,800 needed to gain ballot access, more than half of which were gathered by volunteers. 170,000 of the signatures were collected for free compared to 150,000 by paid signature gatherers.