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