Oregon’s Assisted-Suicide Law Has Doctors Confused Government Warns Physicians About Writing Prescriptions
A week after Oregon voters reaffirmed the state law allowing doctor-assisted suicide, some physicians are holding off on writing prescriptions for lethal drugs for fear of being punished by the federal government.
Despite what Oregon voters say, the Drug Enforcement Administration is warning doctors that helping someone commit suicide will put their licenses to write prescriptions at risk.
Oregon approved a law three years ago that permits doctors to dispense drugs for the purpose of suicide, but legal challenges prevented it from taking effect. Voters reaffirmed the law last week, when a ballot question seeking its repeal was defeated. However, DEA Administrator Thomas Constantine warned that doctors who take part in assisted suicides would be violating federal narcotics law.
The Justice Department has yet to determine if the DEA position is a correct reading of federal law, department spokesman Gregory King said.
The quandary has left Oregon doctors confused and worried.
“It’s a big deal,” said OMA spokesman James Kronenberg. “We’re telling them, ‘You may lose your DEA license. They’re not fooling.”’
The Oregon attorney general’s office, which defended the assisted suicide law against legal challenges, doesn’t provide legal advice to individuals in such matters. But an agency spokesman urged caution.
“With the DEA comments and all of that, doctors should certainly consider talking with their private attorney,” spokesman Peter Cogswell said.
Oregon’s senators disagree over what is to be done.
Republican Gordon Smith, who opposes assisted suicide, said he let the White House know that he agrees with the DEA and that state law must be consistent with federal law.
“It is not unreasonable for the federal government to have concern about this,” Smith said. “This is not a small issue, and this is not a practice which will stop at the borders of Oregon.”
Democrat Ron Wyden, who also opposes assisted suicide, said the federal government should nonetheless abide by the will of Oregon voters.
“The people of Oregon voted ‘no’ on the repeal, and what I’m telling the Clinton administration and the congressional leadership is: ‘What part of “no” do you folks not understand?”’