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An Alternative Positive Viewpoint

Peter Goodwin, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1997;157(15):1642-1644.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

IN A commentary on Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law Emanuel and Daniels¹ raise many of their concerns about the Oregon Death With Dignity Act, and see its safeguards as inadequate. Much of the information they provide can be perceived differently. I refer to the provisions of the Act in proposing different interpretations, and I reach different conclusions about the adequacy of its safeguards.

BACKGROUND TO OREGON DEATH WITH DIGNITY ACT

The Act is a response to a growing awareness on the part of the public and of the medical profession that alternatives to institutionalized dying are needed for terminally ill competent patients, and that lawful consideration of physician-assisted suicide (aid in dying) is both ethical and appropriate. Public opinion polls have shown progressively increasing public support of physician-assisted suicide.² In several recent articles^3-5 surveys of physicians have demonstrated that many physicians believe that physician-assisted suicide is ethical and . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Department of Family Medicine Oregon Health Sciences University Portland, OR 97201

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