X-Message-Number: 10116 Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 11:03:49 -0700 From: Arizonans for Death with Dignity <> Subject: Federal bills blocking assisted suicide continue to move The Portland Oregonian is reporting:- Bills blocking assisted suicide continue to move Legislation aimed at Oregon's law might go to the House and also is scheduled for a Senate hearing Saturday, July 25 1998 By Dave Hogan of The Oregonian staff WASHINGTON -- Legislation that would block Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law continues to advance in Congress. The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to decide Tuesday whether the Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act should go to the House for a vote. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on a companion bill Friday. Because the chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary committees have spearheaded congressional efforts to stop doctors from prescribing lethal drugs under Oregon's Death With Dignity Act, the legislation is not expected to have difficulties moving forward. The bills, introduced in the House and Senate in early June, would amend the Controlled Substances Act to specifically prohibit doctors from prescribing drugs for the purpose of assisting in the suicide of a terminally ill patient. Oregon has the only physician-assisted suicide law in the nation. The legislation answered a June 5 decision by U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration could not use the Controlled Substances Act to discipline doctors who prescribe lethal medications under Oregon's law. Reno's decision was announced in letters to Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary committees. Both men have said that they disagree with Reno and that the new legislation should not be necessary because the Controlled Substances Act allows doctors to prescribe drugs only for "a legitimate medical purpose." The House bill has moved more quickly. After it was introduced by Hyde and Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., the Constitution subcommittee held a hearing July 14. The hearing included testimony by physicians and other witnesses, including Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, a former emergency room doctor, and Dr. Thomas Reardon, president-elect of the American Medical Association. Both oppose the legislation. On Wednesday, the subcommittee amended the bill and approved it by a 6-5 vote. One amendment clarified that federal authorities must prove that a doctor intended to cause or assist a person's death. Authorities could not discipline doctors solely on the basis that they knew the prescription could cause death. Although that change was meant to address doctors' concerns that the legislation could deter doctors from aggressively using pain medication for dying patients, the AMA remains opposed to the bill. Hyde, who participated in the subcommittee's hearing and vote, said last week that his bill might be ready for a vote by the House in September. Next Friday's hearing in the Senate will be the first action on a bill that was introduced by Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla., the assistant majority leader. Witnesses for that hearing have not been announced. Kitzhaber will not attend, but it is uncertain whether another state government official will testify, said Kitzhaber spokesman Bob Applegate. Hatch has made clear his feelings about assisted suicide. When Reno appeared before his committee last week for a review of U.S. Justice Department's operations, Hatch took the opportunity to spell out his position on whether federal law applies to assisted suicide. "Obviously, at least to me, using drugs to kill poses a greater risk to public health and safety than using them to addict," Hatch said. Beyond the chairmen of the Judiciary committees, there appears to be considerable support for blocking Oregon's law. More than 200 members of Congress wrote letters to Reno before her June 5 decision, urging her to say that federal law prohibits doctors from assisting with patients' suicides. At least 23 senators have signed on as co-sponsors of Nickles' bill, and 36 members have co-sponsored the House bill. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This message sent by Arizonans for Death with Dignity David Brandt-Erichsen, AzDD Website Manager <> or <> http://www.hemlock.org/hemlock/arizona or http://www.azstarnet.com/~davidbe/hemlock Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=10116