Controlled Substances Act Used to Challenge Assisted-Suicide Law

A federal district court judge on April 17, 2002 rejected the United States Justice Department's attempt to overturn Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law. The Justice Department had claimed that the state law violated the federal Controlled Substances Act. Oregon was the first state to approve a law that allowed doctors to prescribe lethal dosages of medications like barbiturates to terminally ill patients.

Oregon voters in 1994 approved the "Death with Dignity Act." Opponents filed a legal challenge, and the act was put back on the ballot in 1997. Voters again approved the act that supporters say helps terminally ill people end their suffering. Foes of the law say that assisting with suicide is murder, and that it conflicts with the healing nature of medicine.

Under Oregon law, a terminally ill person can request a lethal dosage of medications if he or...