T
The420Guy
Guest
Nowhere on Attorney General John Ashcroft's official bio does it say he has
a medical degree or license to practice medicine. Yet, that is exactly what
Ashcroft wants to do, judging by his attempts to thwart Oregon and
California voter initiatives with widespread support in the states' medical
communities. This conservative politician wants to go after doctors who
assist their patients in ways that are legal in their own states but
abhorrent to him. Last week, Justice Department lawyers tried to undermine
Oregon's Death with Dignity law in arguments before a 9th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals panel. Ashcroft wants to revoke the licenses of doctors
prescribing federally controlled substances for the purpose of euthanasia.
Oregon voters approved the assisted-suicide law, which contains several
safeguards against abuse, in 1994 and affirmed it in 1997. Oregon is the
only state with an assisted-suicide law, but at least one other state,
Wisconsin, is considering a similar measure. Last fall, a 9th Circuit panel
slapped down some of Ashcroft's other medical meddling, saying he had no
authority to revoke the licenses of California physicians who recommended
medicinal marijuana to patients under that state's voter initiative
permitting the practice. Seven other states, including Washington, have
similar laws. The judges should do the same in Oregon's case. Ashcroft -
lawyer, federal administrator and politician - should respect these state
laws and leave these most intimate and important medical decisions up to
the patients and the real doctors.
Pubdate: Fri, 16 May 2003
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Webpage:
https://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/134746828_oregone= d16
Copyright: 2003 The Seattle Times Company
Contact: opinion@seattletimes.com
Website: The Seattle Times | Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment, travel, restaurants and opinion for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
a medical degree or license to practice medicine. Yet, that is exactly what
Ashcroft wants to do, judging by his attempts to thwart Oregon and
California voter initiatives with widespread support in the states' medical
communities. This conservative politician wants to go after doctors who
assist their patients in ways that are legal in their own states but
abhorrent to him. Last week, Justice Department lawyers tried to undermine
Oregon's Death with Dignity law in arguments before a 9th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals panel. Ashcroft wants to revoke the licenses of doctors
prescribing federally controlled substances for the purpose of euthanasia.
Oregon voters approved the assisted-suicide law, which contains several
safeguards against abuse, in 1994 and affirmed it in 1997. Oregon is the
only state with an assisted-suicide law, but at least one other state,
Wisconsin, is considering a similar measure. Last fall, a 9th Circuit panel
slapped down some of Ashcroft's other medical meddling, saying he had no
authority to revoke the licenses of California physicians who recommended
medicinal marijuana to patients under that state's voter initiative
permitting the practice. Seven other states, including Washington, have
similar laws. The judges should do the same in Oregon's case. Ashcroft -
lawyer, federal administrator and politician - should respect these state
laws and leave these most intimate and important medical decisions up to
the patients and the real doctors.
Pubdate: Fri, 16 May 2003
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Webpage:
https://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/134746828_oregone= d16
Copyright: 2003 The Seattle Times Company
Contact: opinion@seattletimes.com
Website: The Seattle Times | Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment, travel, restaurants and opinion for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.