Autonomy | Release 05.28.02

May 28, 2002

Ashcroft Assisted Dying Appeal Denies States' Rights, Personal Autonomy

Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an appeal in Oregon v. Ashcroft, the case brought against Attorney General Ashcroft after he attempted to nullify Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act. In response to the news, Andrew Batavia, president of AUTONOMY, remarked, "We look forward to handing the Attorney General an appellate decision as devastating as the district court decision he is appealing."

In his powerful decision, District Court Judge Robert Jones concluded that "Through his directive, Ashcroft evidently sought to stifle an ongoing ‘earnest and profound debate’ in the various states concerning physician-assisted suicide."

"By filing his appeal," stated Batavia, "the Attorney General continues to attempt to stifle that debate. There is no limit to this attorney general's willingness to impose his beliefs on the rest of us. Worse, he does it at our - the taxpayers’ - expense."

The Oregon Death With Dignity Act permits physician assisted dying for qualified, terminally ill individuals. Ninety-one people chose to hasten their deaths in the first fours years of the law’s implementation. "Ultimately, Ashcroft must respect the rights and autonomy of the people of Oregon, including terminally ill people who wish to control their final days," Batavia concluded.

AUTONOMY is a disability rights organization that believes people with disabilities should have choices in all aspects of life, including end of life decisions. The organization filed an amicus brief in support of Oregon and other plaintiffs in Oregon v. Ashcroft, which was decided in its favor. AUTONOMY plans to file a similar brief in opposition to the Attorney General's case before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.