Residency Requirement for Physician-Assisted Suicide Quietly Ended

Salem, OR—On March 28, 2022, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum entered into a settlement agreement that guaranteed the non-enforcement of the residency requirement in Oregon’s “Death with Dignity Act.” This statute limited physician-assisted suicide access to residents of Oregon. “We already have a problem with dangerously short physician-patient relationships and the push to eliminate any […]

“Death with Dignity” Report Reveals Continued Neglect of Mental Illness

Salem, OR—Oregon recently released its 24th annual report on assisted suicide in the state. In 2021, 383 people received lethal prescriptions. Of that group, 218 people died from ingesting the lethal medication. That includes 20 patients who used prescriptions for assisted suicide acquired in previous years (2020 report). Since the law was passed in 1997, doctors have […]

Gov. Brown Signs SB 579 Into Law

On July 23, Governor Kate Brown signed Senate Bill 579 into law, eliminating the waiting periods for those near death who may desire or have been pressured into accessing physician-assisted suicide. “By signing this bill, Governor Kate Brown shirked her duty to protect Oregon’s citizens,” says Oregon Right to Life Executive Director Lois Anderson. “Oregon’s ‘Death with Dignity’ […]

Oregon Legislature Eliminates PAS Waiting Periods

Senate Bill 579 eliminates physician-assisted suicide waiting periods for those diagnosed as near death. The Oregon House passed the bill 35-22 yesterday. It will now become law unless the governor vetoes it. “The Legislature heard from highly qualified and experienced medical professionals who testified that this bill is not only unnecessary but dangerous,” says Lois Anderson, ORTL executive director. […]

Despite Bipartisan Opposition, SB 579 Passes Senate

Senate Bill 579 would eliminate physician-assisted suicide waiting periods for those near death. The Oregon Senate passed the bill 16-11. “Every person has a right to be valued and treated ethically, especially during their last days of life,” says Lois Anderson, ORTL executive director. “Persons near death deserve the same protections under the law. Even more, […]