X-Message-Number: 7140
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 09:30:28 -0700
From: David Brandt-Erichsen <>
Subject: Supreme Court right-to-die case update

Wednesday, November 13 1996
Excerpted from The Washington Post and the New York Times

More than 30 groups representing myriad religious faiths, medical interests
and state governments filed briefs to the Supreme Court Tuesday against
physician-assisted suicide, marking the first round in what is shaping up as
one of the most closely watched cases before the court.

Among those filing was the Clinton administration, which for the first time
voiced its official opposition to the idea that a person has a right to
commit suicide with the help of a doctor.

Tuesday was the deadline for all "friend of the court" briefs on the side of
New York and Washington states defending their laws prohibiting assisted
suicide. Federal appeals courts struck down the laws as unconstitutional
after challenges by physicians and terminally ill people.

The court heard Tuesday from only one side of the debate because this was
the deadline for filing briefs in support of the states. Briefs arguing in
support of the lower court decisions will be filed next month. The two cases
are Washington vs. Glucksberg, No. 96-110, and Vacco vs. Quill, No. 95-1858.

[Note: the Supreme Court will hear the case in January and is expected to
issue a ruling next July.]


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