PORTLAND, July 16 (LSN) Opponents of Oregon’s assisted suicide law are continuing their legal efforts to reverse the legislation. They are trying to revive a lawsuit that was dismissed last year by a federal appeals court. They are arguing that terminally ill Oregonians suffer a “stigmatic injury” because of the law because it creates an environment in which terminally ill patients might be expected by the public to invoke the law against their will. Richard Coleson, the lawyer representing opponents of the law, says: “It’s like now there’s pressure (on the terminally ill) to defend why they’re still living.” If this is true, it challenges one of the most important claims from proponents of assisted suicide: that it offers individuals the freedom to control their own destiny. Opponents of the legislation also want the lawsuit certified as a class-action lawsuit on behalf of all terminally ill Oregonians so that it can proceed even if a named plaintiff dies while the challenge is proceeding. Oregon voters have twice approved the assisted suicide law in statewide balloting, in 1994 and 1997, but pro-lifers believe that “populism” is not the appropriate way to determine policy on euthanasia.
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OREGON’S ASSISTED SUICIDE LAW GOES BACK TO COURT
PORTLAND, July 16 (LSN) Opponents of Oregon’s assisted suicide law are continuing their legal efforts to reverse the legislation. They are trying to revive a lawsuit that was dismissed last year by a federal appeals court. They are arguing that terminally ill Oregonians suffer a “stigmatic injury” because of the law because it creates an environment in which terminally ill patients might be expected by the public to invoke the law against their will. Richard Coleson, the lawyer representing opponents of the law, says: “It’s like now there’s pressure (on the terminally ill) to defend why […]
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