The tired argument that Measure 16 was passed by too slim a margin in became irrelevant. November — Some members of U. Congress try to block implementation of Measure 16, but fail. Drug Enforcement Administration to investigate and penalize doctors who prescribe federally controlled drugs for dying patients to hasten their death.
Attorney General Janet Reno agrees to review the matter. Reno argues that: The Controlled Substances Act was designed to prevent the illegal sale and diversion of drugs. The Controlled Substances Act was not intended to supplant individual states as the regulators of medical practice.
President Bill Clinton says he will not sign the bill, and U. Senator Ron Wyden D-Oregon threatens to filibuster. A coalition of 57 healthcare organizations opposes the Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act on grounds that it would prevent dying patients from receiving adequate pain management.
Harold C. But we could also see its defeat as an uplifting civics lesson: Many legislators changed their minds when they realized that the bill could put their constituents at risk. November 8 — U. District Court. April 17 — Judge Robert Jones ruled that the U. Justice Department lacks the authority to overturn an Oregon law allowing physician-assisted deaths.
September 23 — AG Ashcroft files an appeal with the U. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. November 9 — Ashcroft files his petition with the U.. S Supreme Court. Because his term is up, Ashcroft announces his retirement from the Department of Justice. October 5 — Oral arguments in Gonzales v. Oregon are heard. Department of Justice, represented by U. Access your subscriptions. Free access to newly published articles. Purchase access. Rent article Rent this article from DeepDyve. Access to free article PDF downloads.
Save your search. Customize your interests. Create a personal account or sign in to:. Patients meeting these requirements are eligible to request a prescription for lethal medication from a licensed Oregon physician.
To receive a prescription for lethal medication, the following steps must be fulfilled:. To comply with the law, physicians must report to Oregon Health Services OHS all prescriptions for lethal medications. Reporting is not required if patients begin the request process but never receive a prescription.
Physicians must inform pharmacists of the prescribed medication's ultimate use. Physicians and patients who adhere to the act ' s requirements are protected from criminal prosecution, and the choice of legal physician-assisted suicide cannot affect the status of a patient ' s health or life insurance policies.
Physicians and health care systems are under no obligation to participate in the Death with Dignity Act. Table 1 shows a chronology of events, starting with the dates Oregon voters passed the Death with Dignity Act and ending with the date a trial is expected to begin on whether physicians can prescribe controlled substances for use in suicides. A preliminary injunction issued against the measure. A permanent injunction was issued.
A three-judge panel of the U. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the injunction. The U. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. DEA determined that narcotics and other dangerous substances controlled by federal law could not be used to assist suicide. Supreme Court ' s decision in United States v. Oregon ' s attorney general sought a restraining order on the U. The court issued a temporary restraining order, effective until November 20, The court extended the temporary order for four months.
A trial is expected in April of In compliance with a mandate in the Death with Dignity Act to develop a reporting system for monitoring and collecting information on physician-assisted suicide, OHS requires physicians to make a report whenever they write a prescription for lethal medication. OHS uses these reports and information it obtains from physician interviews and reviews of death certificates to confirm patients ' deaths and provide patient demographics.
Table 2 shows statistical information OHS obtained and reported in its third annual report on the Death with Dignity Act. For additional statistical information on Oregon ' s assisted suicide program, visit www. Number of reported assisted suicide deaths.
Number of reported lethal prescriptions written. First doctor asked wrote prescription.
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