Oregon Expands Assisted-Suicide to Nonresidents Despite Obvious Flaws in State Law

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, , , ,

Oregon will let nonresidents end their lives under the state’s assisted-suicide law, according to a bill that Gov. Tina Kotek signed on July 13. The new measure amends Oregon’s 1997 “Death With Dignity Act” that legalized physician-assisted suicide in the state. Going forward, non-residents will be able to travel to Oregon and receive a prescription for lethal drugs if they meet the other criteria in the assisted-suicide law.

Family Council has written repeatedly about the problems with Oregon’s assisted-suicide law over the years.

For example, since 1998, only 3% of assisted-suicide patients in Oregon were referred for psychiatric evaluation first.

That matters, because data from the Oregon Health Authority indicates the vast majority of terminally ill patients who want to end their lives under the state’s assisted-suicide law possibly are wrestling with some type of mental illness.

Over the past 25 years, more than 90% of the patients who inquired about assisted-suicide in Oregon said they were concerned about losing their autonomy because of their illness, and nearly 75% expressed worries about losing their dignity. Most did not express concerns about controlling their pain.

Patients who are lonely and feel like they are losing control over their lives need counseling and support — not a prescription for poisonous drugs.

That’s part of the reason why pro-lifers maintain that assisted-suicide actually robs patients of compassionate care.

In 2019 a Canadian man with ALS made headlines when he chose to take his own life under the country’s assisted suicide and euthanasia laws after the government chose not to provide him with 24-hour home healthcare services due to cost.

In parts of the U.S. where physician-assisted suicide is legal, insurance companies have refused to pay for patients’ medical care, but have offered to cover assisted-suicide drugs.

As Oregon expands its assisted-suicide laws, Arkansans should remember that being pro-life means believing human life is sacred from conception until natural death, and it means opposing the taking of human life without just cause.

Just like abortion, euthanasia and assisted-suicide are murder, and they violate the sanctity of human life.

Join Family Council in Little Rock on August 17 & 18 for the Foundations of Truth Summit, a worldview conference designed to equip and encourage Christians to engage their culture with a biblical worldview. Register here today!

READ MORE

Listen: El Dorado Grapples With Unruly Behavior in Its Public Drinking District

Podcast, Public Drinking,

This is news from Family Council in Little Rock. Today, we turn our attention to El Dorado, where the City Council has been discussing an ongoing issue in its downtown entertainment district.

During its July meeting, El Dorado’s City Council tackled the topic of  rowdiness in the city’s public drinking district, as reported by the El Dorado News Times. This district was established under Act 812 of 2019, which allows cities to create “quote unquote “entertainment districts” where alcohol can be carried and consumed publicly on streets and sidewalks. Such districts can be either permanent or temporary under this law.

Two years later, Act 874 of 2021 expanded the legislation to permit cities in dry counties to approve public drinking if they have a private club serving alcohol within the city limits. And most recently, Act 34 was passed, granting cities and towns without advertising and promotion taxes on hotels and restaurants the ability to establish their own entertainment districts with legal public drinking.

However, these legislative changes have not been without controversy. Family Council has strongly opposed each of these laws, citing concerns over the harm that public drinking can cause to communities.

In El Dorado, the City Council had previously authorized public drinking within a nine block entertainment district downtown. But recently, Council Member Frank Hash pointed out that the district has been experiencing recurring issues with disorderly and unruly behavior, especially during weekends.

According to a recent article in the El Dorado News Times, law enforcement has faced challenges in policing the area, and litter and disruptive behavior have become associated problems.

Proponents of public drinking districts argue that they can boost local economies and tourism, but Family Council’s opposition to these laws emphasizes the serious concerns surrounding public safety and the potential for drunk driving incidents. Public drinking doesn’t attract new businesses or revitalize Main Street, but rather it negatively affects neighborhoods and families.

As the debate over public drinking continues, communities like El Dorado are grappling with the consequences of implementing entertainment districts. The impact on public safety, local businesses, and neighborhood dynamics remains at the forefront of discussions for both citizens and lawmakers.

That concludes our news report for today. Thank you for joining us. If you liked this news report, be sure to check out our website at FamilyCouncil.org. Thanks for listening!

READ MORE