Citation

No Author(s) Listed. AIDS Policy Law 1997; 12(6): e7.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Buraff Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, approved in November 1994, was on hold since a Federal district judge ruled that it violated the U.S. Constitution. Under the statute, Oregon residents can request suicide medication if their doctors determine that they have less than 6 months to live. A second doctor must decide that the patient is mentally competent and not suffering from depression. The health care providers and terminally ill patients who challenged the constitutionality of the provision failed to show how it harmed them. The only surviving patient in the lawsuit contended that the law violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Federal Rehabilitation Act. Physicians and nursing home administrators argued that the Act would force them to violate their rights under the First Amendment and Religious Restoration Act. The Circuit Court found none of the plaintiffs had a standing to sue because their claims were hypothetical. The plaintiffs plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Congress is moving to ban the use of Federal funds to pay for physician-assisted suicide. In Oregon, State officials have said that Medical funds may be used to fund physician-assisted suicide.

Language: en