This article discusses a Washington state initiative to legalize voluntary euthanasia for the terminally ill. Iniative 119 was voted down in a state-wide referendum in 1991. The author reviews the campaigns for & against the initiative. The polls indicated the Washington public was in favour of the iniative; however, negative publicity by anti-euthanasia groups & a 2nd assisted suicide by Jack Kevorkian turned the tide. A California death with dignity iniative for November 1992 is also outlined.