http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041111/STATE/411110348/1042Governor criticizes Ashcroft's requestThe U.S. attorney general asked the high court to end Oregon's assisted-suicide lawBY BRAD CAINThe Associated PressNovember 11, 2004Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski criticized Attorney General John Ashcroft for asking the Supreme Court to snuff out Oregon's assisted-suicide law only hours before Ashcroft stepped down from office."It is unfortunate that one of Attorney General Ashcroft's last official acts was to file this petition," Kulongoski said after Ashcroft asked the court Tuesday to block the nation's only law allowing doctors to help terminally ill patients die more quickly.Kulongoski, who had urged Ashcroft not to file the appeal, said that Oregon voters twice have endorsed assisted suicide and that "it's past time for this administration to focus on ways to work with Oregon -- not against us."Since 1998, more than 170 people have used Oregon's assisted- suicide law to end their lives. Most had cancer.Ashcroft's appeal had been expected since May, when a lower court ruled that the federal government could not punish Oregon doctors who prescribed lethal doses of federally controlled drugs.The Bush administration has argued that assisted suicide is not a "legitimate medical purpose" and that doctors take an oath to heal patients, not help them die.Legal experts interviewed Tuesday said that they doubted that the court would agree to hear the case, given that, in a 1997 ruling, the court said that states could decide the assisted-suicide issue for themselves.Oregon's law, known as the Death With Dignity Act, lets patients with less than six months to live request a lethal dose of drugs after two doctors confirm the diagnosis and determine the person's mental competence to make the request.
Originally posted by Nash He's got a grudge against dead people. They make powerful political foes.
Originally posted by SOB So long sweetheart bag, I hope you get strip searched at the airport on your way back home.
Kulongoski, who had urged Ashcroft not to file the appeal, said that Oregon voters twice have endorsed assisted suicide and that "it's past time for this administration to focus on ways to work with Oregon -- not against us."
Originally posted by DREDIOCK Well remember, there were several instances of dead people registering to vote for this past election.One did it even after he had been dead 20 years alreadythink we may even have a few on the boards here LOL
Originally posted by lazs2 Oh... I thought it was because in blue states the dead rise and vote against him like zombies every election.did someone mention "infallible doctors"?lazs