Oregon update

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7425.E256

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Eric Walsh1, associate professor of family medicine, director of residency training, family medicine (ShHendrickson@peacehealth.org),
Sharmon Hendrickson2, registered nurse, certified hospice and palliative nurse

¹Oregon Health and Science University Portland, OR walshe@ohsu.edu
²Whatcom Hospice Washington State End of Life Consensus Coalition Bellingham, WA

In 1997, Oregon became the only US state to legalize physician assisted suicide (PAS). The Dutch experience may reassure those in the United States who fear an unchecked acceleration of PAS in Oregon and other states that may eventually choose to follow.

Two key differences distinguish the controversies in the Netherlands and Oregon. The Dutch authors pooled both euthanasia and PAS. In Holland, euthanasia is legal. In Oregon, it is not. In addition, the Dutch report tracks actual requests for both euthanasia and PAS, while Oregon …