REBROADCAST: Peter Rassmussen

Dr. Peter Rassmussen died at home yesterday, Nov. 3, surrounded by his family, after taking a lethal dose of drugs to end his life.

Rassmussen worked for thirty years as an oncologist and palliative care doctor in Salem, and was one of many doctors who pushed for the the Death with Dignity law to pass here.  As an oncologist, he wrote end-of-life medication prescriptions for dozens of people since the act became law in Oregon.

Last summer, Rassmussen was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.

We spoke with Rassmussen in March about his own experiences thinking about Death With Dignity — both as a doctor, and as a patient.