X-Message-Number: 7723 Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 16:13:36 -0700 From: David Brandt-Erichsen <> Subject: Oregon Measure 16 legislative threat (Feb 17/97) ASSISTED SUICIDE REPEAL BILL INTRODUCED BY PANEL by Brad Cain SALEM, Ore. (AP) _ A measure to repeal Oregon's assisted suicide law was placed in the legislative pipeline Monday when an Oregon House panel voted to introduce the bill for consideration. Afterward, the Judiciary Committee's chairman said the issue needs a full legislative airing because assisted suicide was approved by voters in 1994 after a campaign of "30-second sound bites" by the opposing sides. "We're going to look at all of the issues. We think a very substantive discussion of Measure 16 is needed," Rep. John Minnis, a Portland Republican, said of his panel's decision to introduce the repeal bill. Minnis said he expects that the Judiciary Committee will produce some sort of bill to repeal or otherwise modify the assisted suicide law that will end up being debated in the full House. Oregon's assisted suicide law, which is on hold pending the outcome of court cases, allows a patient to request a lethal dose of drugs if at least two doctors determine that the person has less than six months to live. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7723