By Peg Sandeen, Chief Executive Officer
Remembering His Historic Impact on the Right to Die Movement
I received the news of Derek Humphry’s death with a mixture of sadness and reverence. Derek was a friend and a mentor to me and to the Death with Dignity organization for over thirty years, and he was also a trailblazer in the assisted dying movement. He was a steadfast and uncompromising advocate for those seeking – in his words, self-deliverance – in their final days. Derek’s legacy is a testament to his tireless work in advancing the principles of dignity, autonomy, and compassion for individuals who are dying.
Derek’s journey began with personal tragedy when his beloved wife, Jean, died of cancer in 1975. Witnessing her suffering and the limitations of end-of-life care, Derek advocated for a dramatic change in the way society approached death. He chronicled the experience in Jean’s Way, one of his five books written between 1978 and 2013.
In 1980, he co-founded the Hemlock Society, an organization that would go on to be the hero organization advocating for the rights of people who were dying. During countless presentations in my early days at Death with Dignity, an audience member would reach into their wallet to proudly show me an old Hemlock Society membership card and tell me what year they joined.
Derek is perhaps best known for his influential New York Times bestseller Final Exit (1991). This slim book, a straightforward “how-to” manual for bringing about a peaceful death, was a “damned suicide manual” to some and profound words of solace and strength to others, particularly those suffering from terrible symptoms for which medicine did not have an answer.
His influence went beyond the pages of his books or the advocacy of the Hemlock Society. Derek’s work sparked nationwide discussions on the moral, legal, and medical aspects of end-of-life care, helping to pave the way for legislative changes in various states and countries.
Derek hand-delivered one of the first financial donations to the brand new “Oregon Right to Die” PAC in Oregon in 1994, as the organization built the campaign to pass the original Oregon Death with Dignity Act at the ballot. When he read the text of what the PAC was proposing, he demanded his money back, insisting that the proposed law was far too restrictive. The financially-strapped campaigners told him the money was already spent (it was), and Derek challenged the restrictiveness of Oregon’s law until his dying day.
In that challenge, Derek was both a friend and a respectful frenemy. We didn’t always agree, and he was at his most vocal and articulate in his disagreement. That didn’t deter our friendly meals together at a restaurant close to his home. Out of respect for Derek, Eli Stutsman and I would carefully check in with each other on the drive home, “Did we make any mistakes? Do we need to follow up with him on anything we discussed?”
One of my fondest memories of Derek was his formal book-lined office, where he would do his writing and sit for media interviews. He held court in a manner matching the magnitude of his contribution to the right to die movement, and I knew any reporter interviewing him would be treated well.
Derek’s work was never just about the right to die; his work was about the right to live with dignity and autonomy, to make choices about one’s own life and death in a compassionate, humane, and personal manner. He believed in the fundamental right that every person should avoid unnecessary suffering and have control over their end-of-life decisions—and he devoted his life to ensuring these principles became recognized and respected.
At 94 years old, Derek Humphrey’s death leaves a void. His unwavering commitment to the cause of compassionate end-of-life care and his steadfast belief in the right to choose our own path in death has forever altered the landscape of the Death with Dignity movement. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide future generations of advocates, ensuring that a central pillar of human rights is one that includes Death with Dignity.
Rest in strength, Derek. Your vision and heart will live on through the lives you touched.