Physician Assisted Suicide

New York cases

1994 case - anti assisted suicide was a violation of equal protection District Court ruled against this statement US Court of Appeals overturned the ruling of the lower court Supreme Court reversed US Court of Appeals decision in Vacco v. Quill (1997)

Constitutional Right?

"In 1997, in the cases of Washington v. Glucksberg and Vacco v. Quill,The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously that there is no Constitutional right to assisted suicide, and that states therefore have the right to prohibit it." WIKIPEDIA

Legal requirements

- Oregon Death With Dignity Act - Washington stature modeled after that of Oregon - Patient must be of sound mind - Two doctors must confirm terminal illness with 6 months to live - Two witnesses, one completely unrelated to the patient - Patient must take an oral and written request which must be 15 days apart

Early roots of the issue

Early 20th century - Eugenics movement

States in which assisted suicide is legal

Oregon, Washington, Vermont