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Coincidental with the first vote ever taken on aid in dying in Washington State, Derek Humphry, founder of the Hemlock Society publishes the first edition of Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying.

Oregon Senator Frank Roberts sponsors legislation championing choice at the end of life.

Compassion In Dying is founded to provide support and advocacy programs for the terminally ill in Washington State.

The Hemlock Society establishes the Patients’ Rights Organization, a political action group.

Compassion in Dying files Glucksberg v. Washington in federal district court, seeking recognition that the choice of a mentally competent, terminally ill patient to seek medications for a peaceful death is protected by the U.S. Constitution.

Oregon voters approve Measure 16, the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, a ballot initiative that permits terminally ill patients, under proper safeguards, to obtain a physician’s prescription to end life in a humane and dignified manner. The law passes with 51 percent of the vote.

Compassion in Dying files Quill v. New York in federal district court, seeking recognition that the choice of a mentally competent, terminally ill patient to seek medications for a peaceful death is protected by the U.S. Constitution.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals both find that the choice of a competent terminally ill patient to seek medications for a peaceful death is protected by the U.S. Constitution.

The Compassion In Dying Federation is spawned by Compassion In Dying of Washington, to launch national advocacy and support programs.

Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act is challenged by the National Right-to-Life Committee. The challenge was held up in the courts until it was dismissed by the Ninth Circuit Court in 1997. That year, the Oregon legislature put a measure on the ballot to rescind the law, but it was defeated by 60 percent of the voters.

In Washington v. Glucksberg and Vacco v. Quill, the U.S. Supreme Court declines to find federal constitutional protection for the choice of aid in dying, reserving the possibility that it will do so in a future case, and inviting the States to grapple with the issue. The Court does recognize a federal constitutional right of all dying patients to receive adequate pain relief, including palliative sedation.

The Hemlock Society establishes the Caring Friends program to provide information and support to its members.

Compassion In Dying’s client “Helen” becomes the first person to take lethal medication.

Rep. Henry Hyde and Sen. Don Nickles introduce The Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act to prohibit legal aid in dying. Compassion in Dying takes a lead in opposing the bill.

Compassion in Dying takes the first-ever case alleging under-treatment of pain is elder abuse to court. Physician is held responsible and a jury awards $1.5M to the patient's survivors.

Compassion in Dying drafts and helps pass legislation in California (AB 487) to improve pain management at the end of life.

October 6, marks the fifth anniversary of Oregon’s Death with Dignity law; 129 terminally ill Oregonians have used it to die peacefully.

Attorneys present oral arguments for Oregon v. Ashcroft arguing states rights. Months later, Judge Jones rules against Ashcroft and rebukes the federal government for its attempt to "stifle an ongoing, earnest and profound debate in the various states concerning physician-assisted suicide."

A physician aid in dying measure is brought to vote in the Vermont legislature with the Hemlock Society providing assistance.

The Hemlock Society, after surveying its membership and receiving a resounding affirmative, enhances its mission to include a more proactive effort in introducing and changing laws that allow people the right to choose a peaceful hastened death if they are terminally ill and mentally competent. As a result of this, the board of directors, after due diligence, made the difficult but strategic decision to change its name from the Hemlock Society to End-of-Life Choices.

End of Life Choices hosts their biannual conference in San Diego, with Episcopalian Bishop John Shelby Spong as keynote speaker.

Compassion in Dying brings a case to the California Medical Board seeking redress for a physician’s failure to treat pain adequately, resulting in the first such disciplinary action.

The Department of Justice appeals Oregon v Ashcroft to the United States Ninth Circuit Court

As Attorney General John Ashcroft resigns, he files an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Ninth Circuit’s affirmation of lower court injunction of the Ashcroft directive. Now known as Gonzales vs. Oregon, the case asks the high court to consider whether the federal Controlled Substances Act authorizes the Department of Justice to displace state regulators and determine legitimate use of medications. Traditionally, this prerogative has been reserved for the states.

On January 17, the Oregon Death with Dignity Act survives the Bush administration’s attempt to nullify it in a 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. In Gonzales v. Oregon, the Court held that the attorney general does not have the authority to cause a “radical shift” in the balance of state and federal power. Compassion & Choices represented 16 terminally ill patient-plaintiffs in the case.

Compassion & Choices urges the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) to cease referring to actions taken in accordance with the Oregon Death with Dignity Act as "assisted suicide.” DHS adopts a policy to use value-neutral language.

Compassion & Choices presents a policy resolution to the American Public Health Association (APHA), seeking recognition that the choice of a terminally ill patient to choose aid in dying is not "suicide.”

APHA adopts a policy urging health educators, policy makers, journalists and health care providers to recognize that the choice of a mentally competent, terminally ill patient to self-administer medications to bring about a peaceful death is not “suicide,” nor is the prescribing of such medications by a physician “assisted suicide” and recommending accurate, value-neutral terms such as “aid in dying” or “patient directed dying” be used to describe this choice.