PORTLAND, Ore., Feb 27 (LSN) – On Thursday the Oregon Health Services Commission voted 10-1 to cover assisted suicide as a medical service for low-income residents under the state's health plan. Oregon’s “Death with Dignity Act” allows doctors to prescribe lethal drugs at the request of terminally ill patients who are deemed to have less than six months to live. Commission chairman Alan Bates said, “religious opponents have no right to impose their moral views on others.” Speaking for the law's most outspoken opponent, the Oregon Catholic Conference, spokesman Bob Castagna said, “there would be no more tragic discrimination against the poor than to allow them to be killed. That is the ultimate discrimination.” At a hearing before the commission voted, Dr. Gregory Hamilton, president of Physicians for Compassionate Care told the members that the poor could choose suicide for lack of money for better medical care. “To offer state-funded suicide, while failing to offer adequate care is unconscionable,” he said. The new policy is scheduled to take effect in about two months but may still have to undergo federal government approval because Medicaid receives federal matching funds.
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OREGON CITIZENS FORCED TO PAY FOR ASSISTED SUICIDE
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb 27 (LSN) – On Thursday the Oregon Health Services Commission voted 10-1 to cover assisted suicide as a medical service for low-income residents under the state's health plan. Oregon’s “Death with Dignity Act” allows doctors to prescribe lethal drugs at the request of terminally ill patients who are deemed to have less than six months to live. Commission chairman Alan Bates said, “religious opponents have no right to impose their moral views on others.” Speaking for the law's most outspoken opponent, the Oregon Catholic Conference, spokesman Bob Castagna said, “there would be no more tragic discrimination against […]
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