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WYDEN PRAISES SUPREME COURT
DECISION
UPHOLDING OREGON’S PHYSICIAN AID IN DYING LAW
Oregon voters have twice approved the
Death with Dignity upheld today;
Senator joined House colleagues in filing amicus brief with the
Court earlier this year
January 17, 2006
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator
Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) praised the 6-3 decision handed down by the
U.S. Supreme Court today upholding Oregon’s twice-approved
physician aid in dying law. Last year, Wyden, along with U.S.
Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Darlene
Hooley (D-Ore.) and David Wu (D-Ore.) filed an amicus brief with
the Supreme Court opposing efforts by the U.S. Department of Justice
to overturn Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act, enacted by
the state in 1997. In that brief they maintained that former Attorney
General John Ashcroft used the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)
incorrectly to bring the Justice Department’s case and threaten
Oregon physicians who follow the Oregon law. Today’s decision
means that Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act will not be overturned
and will continue to be public law in the state.
“Today’s decision by
the Supreme Court is a significant victory for Oregon’s
voters,” said Wyden. “The Court’s decision has
stopped, for now, the Administration’s attempts to wrest
control of decisions rightfully left to the states and individuals.
I will fight tooth and nail any Congressional attempts to overturn
this court ruling.”
The CSA is aimed at stopping trafficking
of illegal drugs and does not afford the Attorney General power
to punish physicians who follow the Oregon law. Wyden has promised
to work to defeat legislative efforts to change the CSA for the
purpose of subverting Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act.
To read the full text of the amicus
brief filed earlier this year click
here.
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