Court says feds can't stop lethal drug prescriptions in Oregon

Published: 2004-05-28

PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- A federal appeals court May 26 helped strengthen Oregon's law allowing physician-assisted suicide and in doing so "has just told these patients that their lives are expendable," according to a spokeswoman for the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. In a 2-1 ruling a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Attorney General John Ashcroft exceeded his authority in 2001 when he ordered the federal government to prosecute Oregon doctors who use federally regulated drugs for lethal prescriptions. Ashcroft's move prompted Oregon to sue. The ruling upholds a 2002 lower court decision that turned back attempts by the U.S. Justice Department to remove assisted suicide from the realm of legitimate medical practice. The case is expected to move on to the U.S. Supreme Court. Cathy Cleaver Ruse, spokeswoman for the U.S. bishops' pro-life secretariat, said that "suicide among the elderly and those suffering from serious illness or disability is not a 'medical practice,' but a tragic public health problem deserving a thoughtful, caring response."

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