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February 22, 2005

Dr Assisted Suicide goes to the USSC

Oregon's Doctor Assisted Suicide Law has reached it's last (and highest) hurdle.

The US Supreme Court agreed to review a lower court ruling by the 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco delivered last May. That ruling said that the government may not sanction doctors for writing prescriptions of lethal doses under the Doctor Assisted Suicide law.

Oregon first passed the law in 1994 and reaffirmed it a few years later. The law allows doctors to write lethal prescriptions of medication for patients with terminal illness who wish to end their life early.

Personally, I think it's an excellent law. It allows for individuals to have a choice at the end of their time about how they want to die. I believe the most important aspect of the law is the peace of mind it gives many terminally ill patients who have concern about the pain they face. According to the state's annual report on Doctor Assisted Suicide many patients who ask for the prescription never use it. It gives them a feeling of control in a situation that often seems out of control.

It's the ultimate prochoice law.

The Bush Administration has fought this law tooth and nail, mostly under the Ashcroft regime. It's twistedly hypocritical for an organization that sent troops to Iraq and such a cavalier manner to be fighting a law used by less than 50 people a year.

Posted by Carla at February 22, 2005 07:53 AM