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In 1997, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that states may ban physician-assisted suicide. In that decision, then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote, "The American Medical Association, like many other medical and physicians' groups, has concluded that 'physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician's role as healer.'"

The majority in the Oregon case did not cite the 1997 case except to note its observation that "Americans are engaged in an earnest and profound debate about the morality, legality, and practicality of physician-assisted suicide."

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Christianity Today's December issue had an editorial on the case.

The opinion and a transcript of the oral arguments are available from the Supreme Court website.

CT's earlier coverage of the Oregon assisted-suicide law includes:

It's Okay to Be Against Suicide | The temptation to evade moral pronouncements is ever with us. A Christianity Today editorial (Nov. 30, 2005)

Ashcroft's Revenge | Challenge to suicide law gets new life. (March 16, 2005)

Death Wishes | Circuit Court supports state's primary role in assisted suicide. (July 15, 2004)

Severe Mercy in Oregon | How two dying patients dealt with a new right: When to die. (June 14, 1999)

Lies We've Heard Before | The same flawed arguments that legalized abortion are now used to support physician-assisted suicide. (July 13, 1998)

Bill Would Limit Lethal Drugs | A new bill before Congress could prohibit the use of federally controlled drugs for physician-assisted suicide. But critics say the measure would restrict legitimate use of painkillers for terminally ill patients. (October 26, 1998)

What Really Died in Oregon | The state's voter-approved suicide law represents more than an extreme belief in personal autonomy. (Jan. 12, 1998)

Doctor-Assisted Suicide Stirs Physicians' Fears | Tremors from last month's major medical and moral earthquake in Oregon soon will be felt across the nation. (Dec. 8, 1997)

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January (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50