No Federal Challenge To Oregon's Assisted-Suicide Law
Clinton opposes assisted suicide, but agrees with Justice's opinion
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 5) -- The Justice Department does not plan to challenge Oregon's assisted-suicide law, Attorney General Janet Reno said Friday.
Reno said the department has concluded that the federal Controlled Substances Act [CSA] would not allow federal officials to take action against any physician who assisted with a suicide under the Oregon law.
In a statement, Reno said the "pursuit of adverse actions against Oregon physicians who fully comply with that
state's Death with Dignity Act would be beyond the purpose of the CSA."
In an interview with CNN, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said Reno told him the federal government would respect the will of Oregon voters and allow the physician-suicide measure to go forward.
Wyden said Reno concluded the federal government could not "take
away a physician's right to practice just for complying with Oregon law."
The voters in Oregon "made it real clear where they stand. Now the federal government has made it clear," Wyden said.
Wyden, who said he did not vote for the assisted-suicide law, said he
hoped everyone would "look for more humane options in such situations, such as better hospice care and make assisted suicide a rare matter."
Oregon voters approved a law that insures that "when you have an
individual in a terminal situation with no options, the physician would be able to prescribe a barbiturate that would end the individual's life," Wyden said.
"This is a victory for democracy," Wyden said. "The federal government has decided to allow the assisted-suicide law to go forward ... It is important to respect the people."
Oregon voters have twice approved a law giving doctors the freedom to assist people with less than six months to live to end their own lives.
The federal decision clears the way for doctors and hospitals, which had been wary, absent a federal opinion on the matter.
The Associated Press reported that at a November meeting of the Oregon Medical Association's governing body, doctors said they were concerned about implied threats from Congress and the Drug Enforcement Administration to restrict prescriptions for controlled substances.
At least three terminally ill Oregonians -- one a grandmother in her 80s with cancer -- have killed themselves with lethal prescriptions since November.
White House signs off on decision
White House officials say President Bill Clinton signed
off on the Justice Department conclusion that it did not have legal standing to challenge Oregon's assisted-suicide law.
White House spokesman Barry Toiv said the president remains opposed to assisted suicide, however, and noted that Clinton last year signed a law that blocks any federal funding of assisted-suicide programs.
CNN's John King and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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