Court backs Oregon's assisted suicide law

[icymist]

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 · Last updated 8:24 p.m. PT

Court backs Oregon's assisted suicide law

By DAVID KRAVETS
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court ordered the Bush administration not to meddle with a state's assisted suicide law, ruling Wednesday that doctors in Oregon may prescribe lethal doses of medication to terminally ill patients.

Ruling on the nation's only law that allows doctors to assist in hastening the death of a patient, the court said U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft cannot sanction or hold Oregon doctors criminally liable for prescribing overdoses, as the state's voter-approved Death With Dignity Act allows.

"The attorney general's unilateral attempt to regulate general medical practices historically entrusted to state lawmakers interferes with the democratic debate about physician assisted suicide," wrote Judge Richard Tallman in the 2-1 opinion by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He said Ashcroft's action "far exceeds the scope of his authority under federal law."

The Justice Department had concluded that suicide is not a "legitimate medical purpose," but Oregon maintained it had the power to declare for itself what types of medical procedures are allowed.

More at this

[amlouden]

1. that's nice

that appeals court has been doing really well in the past couple of years

[huellewig]

2. If it gets so bad..

I want to have the choice. The bridge is only a 100 yards away. I can jump off that. Letting me take a few pills and die with my family in my bed is cheaper then scooping my body out of the McKenzie River.


I voted for physician assisted suicide. </Oregonian>

{edit: if the suicide pill makers dumped more money into the GOP physician assisted suicide would be our new method of treating illness in the poor}

[Judi Lynn]

3. This is an excellent article, icymist.

You would think John Ashcroft, who seems to identify heavily with "States' Rights," when it serves his purposes, would feel he seems inconsistant in trying to interfere in matters like assisted suicide and medical marijuana, etc., etc.

What a great piece of news. John Ashcroft's REALLY not going to like this!



For the music lover at DU, (oh, you bet) here's a small inspirational song by John Ashcroft to lift you up!
http://www.symbolman.com/corpabuse.html

[struggle4progress]

4. Oh, thank you ever so much for calling my attention ...

to Ashcroft's vocal talents! How can I ever repay you?

[stevedeshazer]

5. This Oregonian wants John Ashcroft to go to hell

Leave us alone.

[Generator]

6. Yeah baby!

The court docket was Ashcroft VERSUS Oregon. Need we say more?