I Forgot a Minor Detail

I realized I forgot a minor detail in my summary of RCW 70.245. Here's 70.245.060: 

If, in the opinion of the attending physician or the consulting physician, a patient may be suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgment, either physician shall refer the patient for counseling. Medication to end a patient's life in a humane and dignified manner shall not be prescribed until the person performing the counseling determines that the patient is not suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgment.

So if I've got this right, if one of the doctors your required to find decides you're depressed enough that it impacts your thinking they can refuse to prescribe life ending drugs until such time as you're not depressed. Fair enough, I supposed, but question: if you've got a terminal disease that's going to kill you in less than six months how is it even possible to not be depressed? 

I find it hard to imagine that there are too many people running around saying, "Oh, yay, I'm dying. I feel so great about that fact, I think I'll try to accelerate that process."

Yes, that describes my mental outlook exactly. 

But tell me you don't see the conversations all too frequently running like this:

Doctor: You have six months to live.
Patient: I'd really rather not deal with the cornucopia of crap that's going to come in my final days. How 'bout we just end it early, while I'm still human and still me.
Doctor: You want to die before your time? You must be depressed. You should go in for six months of counseling, then we can revisit this issue.
Patient: But I've only got six months to live.
Doctor: Convenient that, no?

Although maybe I'm too pessimistic. Here's a graph from the state's Department of Health showing how many people have obtained prescriptions under the death with dignity law since 2009:

It's not the hugest number in the world, but it's not zero. But at least a few hundred people have made it through all the hoops.

Of course, what they don't tell you is how many people tried to make it through but got diverted. According to another table the DOH makes available, 12,190 Washington residents died of cancer in 2014, and 129 of the 176 people who opted for the early exit were dying from cancer. 129 divided by 12,190 is basically 1%. One percent of people dying of cancer opt not to stretch it out to its limit. 

Does 1% seem like a lot? Or a little? Personally, I would've expected more. But what do I know? I'm depressed...