1994 Oregon Ballot Measure 16

Under the law, any competent adult who has been diagnosed, by a physician, with a terminal illness that will kill the patient within six months may request in writing, from his or her physician, a prescription for a lethal dose of medication for the purpose of ending the patient's life. Exercise of the option under this law is voluntary and the patient must initiate the request. Any physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider who has moral objections has the right to refuse to participate. The request must be confirmed by two witnesses, at least one of whom is not related to the patient, is not entitled to any portion of the patient's estate, is not the patient's physician, and is not employed by a health care facility caring for the patient. After the request is made, another physician must examine the patient's medical records and confirm the diagnosis. The patient must be determined to be free of a mental condition impairing judgment. If the request is authorized, the patient must wait at least fifteen days and make a second oral request before the prescription may be written; since 2020, the patient's attending physician has been allowed to waive this waiting period if the patient "will, within reasonable medical judgment, die within 15 days after making the initial oral request." The patient has a right to rescind the request at any time. Should either physician have concerns about the patient's ability to make an informed decision, or feel the patient's request may be motivated by depression or coercion, the patient must be referred for a psychological evaluation. The law protects doctors from liability for providing a lethal prescription for a terminally ill, competent adult in compliance with the statute's restrictions. Participation by physicians, pharmacists, and health care providers is voluntary. The law also specifies a patient's decision to end his or her life shall not "have an effect upon a life, health, or accident insurance or annuity policy." ==Impact==

From the beginning of 1999 through the end of 2024, a total of 4,881 people have had prescriptions written and 3,243 patients have died from ingesting medications prescribed under the act. The median age of the 3,243 patients who died from ingesting medication was 73; 69.2 percent of patients had malignant neoplasms (cancer). Of the 3,243, 53.1% were male (46.9% female); 45.1% had a Baccalaureate degree or higher; 45.2% were married; primary end of life concerns were loss of autonomy (90.1%), inability to make life enjoyable (89.4%), and loss of dignity (69.4%). The Death with Dignity Act was the basis of the Washington Death with Dignity Act in 2008. In 2011 the documentary film How to Die in Oregon was released. It won the Grand Jury prize for documentary film at the 27th Sundance Film Festival. According to Dignity in Dying, Lord Falconer's Assisted Dying Bill, first tabled in the House of Lords in June 2014, "draws on the experience" of the Death with Dignity Act. ==Attempts to repeal==

In addition to arguments against physician-assisted dying, opponents feared that terminally ill people throughout the nation would flock to Oregon to take advantage of the law. This fear has not been realized, largely because drafters of the law limited its use to Oregon residents. Despite the measure's passage, implementation was tied up in the courts for several years. In 1997, the Oregon Legislative Assembly referred Measure 51, which would have repealed the act, to the ballot. Proponents of Measure 51 argued that the Death with Dignity Act lacked a mandatory counseling provision, a family notification provision, strong reporting requirements, or a strong residency requirement. Measure 51 opponents argued that sending the measure back to voters was disrespectful considering they had already passed Measure 16 via the initiative process. They also felt that the safeguards in the Death with Dignity Act were adequate. Measure 51 was defeated in the November 4, 1997, special election with 445,830 votes in favor, and 666,275 votes against. Some members of the United States Congress, notably Senator Don Nickles of Oklahoma, tried to block implementation of Measure 16, but failed. In 2002, federal judge Robert E. Jones blocked a move by United States Attorney General John Ashcroft to suspend the license for prescribing drugs covered in the Controlled Substances Act of doctors who prescribed life-ending medications under the Oregon law. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the block, stating that the "Attorney General lacked Congress' requisite authorization". In October 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Gonzales v. Oregon to determine the fate of the Death with Dignity law. Arguing on behalf of the state was Oregon Senior Assistant Attorney General Robert Atkinson. Oregon's five Democratic members of Congress also filed a brief in support of the State's position. United States Solicitor General Paul Clement argued on behalf of the Bush administration, which challenged Oregon's right to regulate the practice of medicine when that practice entails prescribing federally controlled substances. On January 17, 2006, the court ruled 6–3 in favor of Oregon, upholding the law. ==See also==