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| Annual Performance Measures Oregon's Death with Dignity Act On October 27, 1997 Oregon enacted the Death with Dignity Act which allows terminally-ill Oregonians to end their lives through the voluntary self-administration of lethal medications, expressly prescribed by a physician for that purpose. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act requires the Oregon Department of Human Services to collect information about the patients and physicians who participate in the Act, and publish an annual statistical report. These data are important to parties on both sides of the issue. Our position is a neutral one, and we offer no opinions about the law. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act, a citizens' initiative, was first passed by Oregon voters in November 1994 by a margin of 51% in favor and 49% opposed. Immediate implementation of the Act was delayed by a legal injunction. After multiple legal proceedings, including a petition that was denied by the United States Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the injunction on October 27, 1997 and the Act became a legal option for terminally-ill patients in Oregon. In November 1997, Measure 51 (authorized by Oregon House Bill 2954) was placed on the general election ballot and asked Oregon voters to repeal the Death with Dignity Act. Voters chose to retain the Act by a margin of 60% to 40%. The Death with Dignity Act states that ending one's life in accordance with the law does "not constitute suicide or assisted suicide". The Death with Dignity Act specifically prohibits lethal injection, mercy killing, or active euthanasia, where a physician or other person directly administers a medication to end another's life. Additional Resources The Task Force to Improve the Care of Terminally-Ill Oregonians (http://www.ohsu.edu/ethics/guide1.htm) Includes:
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