Some hospitals in the American state of Washington have declared that they will not allow assisted suicide, even though voters authorised it in an election day referendum on November 4. According to the Washington State Medical Association, doctors are not obliged to help their patients commit suicide.

Eastern Washington's largest hospital system, Providence Health and Services, issued a press release responding to the new legislation: ""Providence will not support physician-assisted suicide within its ministries. This position is grounded in our basic values of respect for the sacredness of life, compassionate care of dying and vulnerable persons, and respect for the integrity of medical, nursing and allied health professions. " ~ Spokesman Review, Nov 6