Say You're In Favor of States Rights?

[alexlannin]

Forty-six died with doctor-assisted suicide in 2006
Posted by The Oregonian March 08, 2007 09:22AM
Forty-six Oregonians ended their lives by doctor-assisted suicide last year under Oregon's unique-in-the-nation Death With Dignity Act, according to an annual report released Thursday.

That represents the highest annual total in the nine years the law has been in effect. Over the past five years, the figure has ranged from 37 to 46.

"Although more people participated last year, our report shows little overall change in the demographics and characteristics among those who are using this law," said Dr. Mel Kohn, state epidemiologist, in releasing the new data.

Oregon is the only state where it is legal for a doctor to prescribe a lethal drug dose to a terminally ill patient of sound mind who requests it in orally and in writing and meets others requirements. Doctor-assisted suicide accounts for slightly more than one in 1,000 deaths in Oregon, a rate that has stayed fairly consistent since 1998.

Most of the Oregonians who died by assisted suicide last year had terminal cancer. Almost all had health insurance and died at home.

Don Colburn
doncolburn@news.oregonian.com

[Jim T.]

I can only hope this is an available option to me if and when I ever get in that kind of condition.

[edwardmblake]

I'm in favor of allowing terminally ill patients who want to, commit doctor-assisted suicide. If some one doesn't want to go on with the pain, let them go.

[Amos Moses]

What's the other side to this? You have to wither and die naturally, you can't just end it? Of course I support this!

[Jef UK]

Forty-six died with doctor-assisted suicide in 2006
Posted by The Oregonian March 08, 2007 09:22AM
Forty-six Oregonians ended their lives by doctor-assisted suicide last year under Oregon's unique-in-the-nation Death With Dignity Act, according to an annual report released Thursday.

That represents the highest annual total in the nine years the law has been in effect. Over the past five years, the figure has ranged from 37 to 46.

"Although more people participated last year, our report shows little overall change in the demographics and characteristics among those who are using this law," said Dr. Mel Kohn, state epidemiologist, in releasing the new data.

Oregon is the only state where it is legal for a doctor to prescribe a lethal drug dose to a terminally ill patient of sound mind who requests it in orally and in writing and meets others requirements. Doctor-assisted suicide accounts for slightly more than one in 1,000 deaths in Oregon, a rate that has stayed fairly consistent since 1998.

Most of the Oregonians who died by assisted suicide last year had terminal cancer. Almost all had health insurance and died at home.

Don Colburn
doncolburn@news.oregonian.com

I hope I don't have to move to Oregon at the end of my life if I need to participate in something like this.

Given the thread title, are you saying you're against doctor-assisted suicide?

[Bill?]

What's the other side to this? You have to wither and die naturally, you can't just end it? Of course I support this!

baby jesus hates a quitter.

[Amos Moses]

baby jesus hates a quitter.

I bet he would've wanted a cyanide pill after a few minutes in the sun.






I am soooooo going to hell for that.

[Jef UK]

I bet he would've wanted a cyanide pill after a few minutes in the sun.






I am soooooo going to hell for that.

Don't sweat it. There's no such thing as hell.

[Mr. E!]

What's the other side to this? You have to wither and die naturally, you can't just end it? Of course I support this!

The other side is usually presented as a slippery slope argument. If we allow people who are terminal to have doctor assisted suicide, where do we draw the line? What if someone is simply suffering from chronic pain, but it is not terminal? Do we allow them the same access to DAS? Or people with schizophrenia or other mental disorders, should they have access to DAS? How do we define quality of life?
Another aspect to the counterargument is that doctors should not be allowed to assist in the willful taking of a life, regardless of the level of suffering. It spits in the face of the Hippocratic oath.

Now, I'm not saying I agree with these, but those are the non-religious counterarguments I see most often.

[Ryan Elliott]

Their choice. Their decision. Their body. No one can tell them not to.