Originally published February 22 2006
Supreme Court upholds Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In a decision that may pave the way for other states to adopt doctor-assisted suicide laws, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Justice Department may not punish Oregon doctors who assist terminally ill patients end their lives in accordance with Oregon's unique Death with Dignity Act.
The ruling struck down one of the administration's signature policies regarding what President Bush calls the "culture of life" and lifts the last legal cloud over the state's law, which is unique in the nation.
It also frees other states to follow in Oregon's footsteps, unless Congress acts to the contrary.
Still, coming a year after efforts by Republicans in Congress to block the removal of a feeding tube from Terri Schiavo, and after Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.
Roberts dissented from the ruling, joined by Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.
Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, a nonprofit litigation group founded by Pat Robertson, called it "a disturbing and dangerous decision that can only lessen the value of protecting human life."
Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) called it "a significant victory for Oregon's voters," who twice approved the Death With Dignity Act in statewide referendums.
Looking ahead to possible Republican efforts to change federal law, Wyden said, "I will fight tooth and nail any congressional attempts to overturn this court ruling."
A Pew Research Center for the People and the Press poll released Jan. 5 found that 46 percent of Americans support a right to assisted suicide while 45 percent oppose it.
Assisting suicide is a crime in 44 states, including Maryland, as well as the District.
Ohio's Supreme Court has decriminalized assisted suicide, but state regulations do not condone it.
A measure modeled on Oregon's passed two committees in the California Assembly last year but then fizzled from lack of support.
An author of the bill, Assemblywoman Patty Berg (D), said she was "very optimistic" that the ruling would help prospects for the bill this year.
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