History

=Brief History and Recent Developments: What Is Physician Assisted Suicide?=

=Introduction= __Physician Assisted Suicide:__ also refferred to as "End of Life Care" is the voluntary termination of one's own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician. It is the practice of providing a //competent// patient with a prescription for medication (generally euthanasia) for the patient to use with the primary indication of ending their life. =﻿Background=
 * - Physician Assisted Suicide is often confused with the likes of Euthanasia but they in fact differ. In any form of medical assisted suicide, the physician provides the information on termination to the patient but the patient performs the act. In Euthanasia, however, the physician performs all interventions. **

=﻿Major Legislation's P.O.V.= The major legislation's p.o.v. is the same as the supreme court; no one has the right to a physician assisted suicide. =﻿Key Supreme Court Desicions= The supreme court decision on the matter is that no average American woman has the Constitutional right to a physician assisted suicide. Many cases are taken to the supreme court, as the decision affects the country's laws.

Gonzales vs. Oregon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzales_v._Oregon

=Current Policy= As of late 1997, Oregon was known as the first state to legally allow physician assisted suicide. As of 2009 (after the ruling of Baxter vs. Montana) three states allow this practice: 1. Washington (Washington Death with Dignity Act) 2. Montana (after Baxter vs. Montana) 3. Oregon (Oregon Death with Dignity Act)

The first state to allow this law, Oregon, has a specific policy: the doctor does not personally administer the drug into the patient, the patient does it to himself/herself.

To avoid legality and liability problems, the patient must provide a written request for the prescription of euthanasia, as well as two oral requests to the doctor. The doctor must provide written confirmation that the act is voluntary and the patient is informed. =Current Events=

Bruce Brodigan A 46 year old teacher from the state of Massachusetts who is being charged with helping his father end his life. http://assistedsuicide.org/blog/2011/01/10/can-an-alzheimers-victim-end-their-own-life/