Report shows slight rise in number of Oregonians using suicide law

Published: 2004-04-21

PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- The number of terminally ill Oregonians who use the state law allowing physician-assisted suicide continues to increase slightly. Meanwhile, physicians are referring fewer of the patients for psychological evaluation and are spending less time at the deathbed. The Oregon Catholic Conference calls the trends troubling. In 2003, 42 patients died using lethal prescriptions written by physicians, said a report released earlier this year by the Oregon Office of Disease Prevention and Epidemiology. That compares with 38 who died in 2002, the previous high mark. Since the law went into effect in late 1997, 171 people have used it. Dr. Mel Kohn, state epidemiologist, noted the increase but said "the number remains small in comparison to" an average of 31,000 Oregon deaths annually. Assisted suicide accounts for about one-seventh of 1 percent of deaths in the state.

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