36 people die by assisted suicide under new law

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First 10 months of 'Death with Dignity' law sees 36 assisted suicides

Under law, any Washington resident over 17, mentally competent and with a terminal illness can ask for lethal dose

Thirty-six people have killed themselves in the state of Washington during the first 10 months of its assisted-suicide program, known as "Death with Dignity".

The figures released by the US state's health department give the first official indication of how the controversial law, passed by electoral ballot in 2008, is being applied in practice.

Almost 60% of voters backed the law, which came into effect on 5 March 2009, making Washington the second state after Oregon to allow doctor-assisted suicide.

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