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NEWS RELEASE

February 24, 2000

Disability Activists Slam Oregon Report

CONTACT:

Diane Coleman, J.D., Executive Director (708) 209-1500 x 11
Stephen Drake, Research Analyst (708) 209-1500
Ric Burger, (503) 963-8188

Members of Not Dead Yet, a national disability rights and advocacy group opposed to legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia had no words of praise for the newest report issued by the Oregon Health Division. "This is junk science," said Oregon activist Ric Burger. In the authors' own words, "under reporting and non-compliance is ... difficult to assess because of possible repercussions for noncompliant physicians reporting to the division."

Even with the questionable validity and accuracy of the information included in the report, activists point to several areas in the report that justify their long-held concerns over legalization.

Concern over being a burden, loss of autonomy, decreasing ability, and loss of control over bodily functions topped the list of concerns alleged to come from patients who killed themselves. In other words, it was the fear of disability that was a driving factor in these decisions.
Over two-thirds of the individuals who committed suicide using lethal prescriptions were turned down by the first doctor they approached, suggesting that subsequent physicians were less critical and careful in deciding who should get lethal prescriptions. None of the physicians who refused the initial requests were contacted to give their reasons for refusals.
In 1998, physicians who participated in the assisted suicides were asked if they were connected to a pro-assisted suicide advocacy group. A majority of the respondents indicated they had ties to these groups. The Division omitted the question in the 1999 project.
Physicians who had known the individual for as little as two weeks gave lethal prescriptions.
The official number of lethal prescriptions has almost doubled in the space of one year.

"This latest report serves to promote the illusion that there is real accountability in the Oregon health system's oversight of assisted suicide," said Diane Coleman, executive director of Not Dead Yet. "In fact, there is nothing available that even approaches the level of meaningful research. The greatest public service the Oregon Health Division could provide is to admit there is no accountability and no way to know what is really happening with assisted suicide in Oregon."

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Contact:

Local, Memphis:

Tim Wheat
(901) 726-6404 * (901) 726-6521 fax
1633 Madison Avenue - Memphis TN 38104

National:

Steve Drake

Diane Coleman
(708) 209-1500 ext. 11
7521 Madison St.
Forest Park, IL 60130

Memphis Center for Independent color logo

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The Memphis Center for Independent Living
1633 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 726-6404 v/tty (901) 726-6521 fax
mcil@mcil.org

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