Feds want appeals court review of ruling on use of lethal drugs

Published: 2004-07-19

PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- The U.S. Department of Justice has asked for an 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review a ruling allowing the use of federally regulated drugs for assisted suicide in Oregon. In a 2-1 ruling in May, a three-member panel of the appeals court 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 upheld 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. Now Ashcroft hopes the larger group of judges will reverse the May ruling. The move would bring Oregon into line with the other 49 states, outlawing the use of federally controlled drugs for assisted suicide.

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