Dr. Peter Rasmussen, Death with Dignity advocate, dies
Dr. Peter Rasmussen, a national advocate for legalizing physician aid-in-dying, died Tuesday morning with the help of Oregon’s Death with Dignity law, his family said.
Rasmussen, 70, was an oncologist who was passionate about caring for terminal patients and ensuring they could make own their medical choices in the face of death.
He was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor, in the spring of 2014.
Rasmussen’s wife, Cindy Rasmussen, said her husband was surrounded by family when he took the lethal dose of drugs to end his life.
Cindy Rasmussen described his last moments as peaceful and that he died 30 minutes after taking the medicine.
The family held a private ceremony on Sunday to honor the Salem man and share memories. No other services are being planned.
Rasmussen was one of the few physicians who dared to speak in support of Oregon’s Death with Dignity ballot measure in the 1990s, and his medical career at times took a hit from his controversial stance. Even after Oregon voters approved the measure, state and national forces sought to shut down the policy.
He ultimately joined a group of plaintiffs suing the federal government, which had attempted to nullify Oregon’s law.
In 2001, then-U.S. Attorney John Ashcroft said he would penalize doctors who prescribed federally controlled substances to help patients die. The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case and decided in support of Oregon in January 2006.
Former state Rep. George Eighmey, who worked with Rasmussen to protect the law from being blocked, said in a December 2014 interview with the Statesman Journal that Rasmussen was instrumental in keeping Death with Dignity intact.
“He was probably one of the most bravest and received some of the most vitriolic comments from opponents,” Eighmey said. “They vilified him and it was unfortunate, because Peter is one of the most compassionate, understanding physicians I’ve ever met.”
Eighmey is now president of the board of Death with Dignity National Center, which played an active role in California’s physician aid-in-dying bill. It was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on Oct. 5.
Rasmussen had been drawn to helping terminal patients since early in his career. After practicing as a general internist for three years, he went to the University of Miami to complete an oncology fellowship.
He founded the practice that is now Hematology Oncology of Salem.
Rasmussen also helped found Willamette Valley Hospice and served on Salem Hospital’s medical ethics committee and led the creation of POLST, or physician orders for life-sustaining treatment.
The form allows patients approaching end of life to let emergency responders know whether and to what extent they wish to be resuscitated.
POLST is now active or being developed in most states.
Rasmussen also served as president of the Salem Hospital Medical Staff.
When Rasmussen wasn’t caring for cancer patients and volunteering for causes relating to end-of-life issues, he acted in Pentacle Theatre productions, tended to his yard, cared for his dog, Pugsley, and traveled the country and the world.
After retiring in 2009, Rasmussen was an active student and instructor in Willamette University’s Institute of Continued Learning.
He was born Aug. 29, 1945, in Elmhurst, Illinois. He moved to Salem to open an oncology practice in 1980.
Rasmussen is survived by his wife, Cindy Rasmussen; stepdaughter, Gretchen Higgins, 28, of New York City; and stepson Keith Brandtjen, 24, of Seattle.
syoo@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6673 or follow at Twitter.com/syoo.
More coverage
Driven by his passion for the Death with Dignity movement, Dr. Peter Rasmussen allowed Statesman Journal reporter Saerom Yoo and photographer Danielle Peterson to follow and document his journey as he faced his own death. Stories, photos and videos from previous coverage are available at stjr.nl/rasmussen. An installment about his last days will be published soon.