Tuesday, January 17, 2006, the US Supreme Court has begun the fight to keep the feds out of death choices. In a 6-3 decison, the court ruled in Gonzales v. Oregon aganist the Justice Department decision to use federal Controlled Substaces Act to take legal action aganist Oregon doctors who participate in physician-assisted suicides under the Oregon Death with Dignity Act.
While death should not be the first choice of any person who is in any painful situation, Americans should have the right to choice whether or not they want to terminate their life if they have a terminal illness and are in a state of mind to do so. With proper oversite, phyisicians can play an important role in this, providing their patients with the fastest and most painless method of death. Having the right to control my life should include deciding how I end it.
For More Information
Court Clashes over doctor-aided suicides
- This MSNBC article cover the oral arguments of Gonzales v. Oregon
State of Oregon: Physician-Assisted Suicide
- Oregon goverment website about the details of the 1994 ballot iniative
Physicians' Experiences with the Oregon Death with Dignity Act
- A New England Journal of Medicine study about the use of law
