Catholic-affiliated health centers, for example, have already forbidden their physicians from doing so. Measure 16 will provide an additional option for some patients and some physicians. Besides opposition from the Catholic church and antiabortion groups, the American Medical Association has opposed legalizing physician assisted suicide. In nearby Washington state, residents passed up an initiative that would have allowed them to keep their doctors when they switched jobs or health plans. The initiative would have also given consumers more access to information on health plans.
Supporters blame the ballot name, which mentioned nothing about patient choice or access.
Analysts also point to the state's insurance companies, which spent about five times as much on adveertising as supporters of the initiative. They raised enough doubts in peoples' minds that they just weren't sure about the initiative. The campaign, however, lacked support from the Washington State Medical Association. According to Ms. Wippel, the society declined to support the initiative because it included naturopaths and chiropractors in addition to physicians. Voters in Washington also turned down a gun regulation initiative that would have required guns sold or transferred to have a trigger lock.