Since Oregon legalized assisted suicide in 1994, other states have rejected assisted-suicide measures, many multiple times. Between January 1994 and June 2009, there were 113 legislative proposals in 24 states. All were either defeated, tabled for the session, or languished with no action taken. View State by state list of proposals.
 
In Canada, Francine LaLonde has again introduced an assisted suicide bill. If passed, the bill would amend the Criminal Code to permit a doctor to assiste a patient's suicide if the patient is EITHER (A) in severe physical or mental pain, or (B) terminally ill.

Every assisted-suicide bill that has been introduced in the United States this year is modeled on Oregon's "Death with Dignity Act." Proponents claim assisted suicide is working well in that state, but facts about Oregon's law indicate their claim is false.

Baxter v. Montana amicus curiae brief (PDF)

News and Views...

"Wash. state has first death under new suicide law"
( Associated Press - Olympia, WA USA - May 22, 2009 )
As it did with the first reported death under Oregon's assisted suicide law, the assisted-suicide advocacy group Compassion & Choices announced the first reported suicide death under the Washington law. More
 
"Legalized euthanasia leads to no choice, ever"
( Calgary Herald - Calgary, Alberta Canada - May 16, 2009 )
Those eligible under Francine Lalonde's proposed assisted-suicide law include depressed 18-year-olds. Bill C-384 makes it legal for doctors to kill anyone 18 or older who ''continues, after trying or expressly refusing the appropriate treatments available, to experience severe physical or mental pain without any prospect of relief.'' More
 
"‘Death with Dignity’: What Do We Advise Our Clients?"
( King County Bar Association - Seattle, WA USA - May, 2009 )
If a client wants to know about the Death with Dignity Act (Washington's new assisted-suicide law), should an attorney take the politically correct path? Or should she do her job as a lawyer and tell the client that the Act has problems and that he may want to take steps to protect himself? More
 
"Different assisted-suicide groups, one goal"
( Los Angeles Times - Los Angeles, CA USA - March 27, 2009 )
While the groups may have different tactics, the goals of the Final Exit Network and Compassion and Choices are practically the same. Both want to see assisted suicide expanded to anyone who perceives himself to be suffering, and the relationship between the two groups goes beyond their shared cause. More

"Arrests open new front in assisted suicide fight"
( Chicago Tribune - Atlanta, GA USA - March 1, 2009 )
Instead, Goodwin was surprised by agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, who burst in and arrested him on Wednesday for violating the state's assisted suicide law. They also opened a new front in a resurgent war over Americans' right to take their own lives. More

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