Less Than 1% of Assisted-Suicide Patients in Oregon Received a Psychiatric Evaluation Last Year

Bioethics, Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, , , ,

Data from the State of Oregon shows that last year less than 1% of patients who received a prescription for physician-assisted suicide were referred for a psychiatric evaluation.

Oregon’s 1997 “Death With Dignity Act” legalized physician-assisted suicide in the state, and since then more than 3,200 people have received prescriptions for lethal drugs.

More than 90% of the patients who asked about assisted suicide in Oregon said they were concerned about losing their autonomy because of their illness and nearly 70% expressed worries about losing their dignity. Most did not express concerns about controlling their pain.

However, doctors in Oregon rarely refer these patients for psychiatric help. Patients who are lonely and feel like they are losing control over their lives need counseling and support — not a prescription for deadly drugs.

Assisted suicide is devastating for families, and it robs patients of compassionate care.

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

Being pro-life means believing innocent human life is sacred from conception until natural death.

That’s why Family Council helped defeat a very bad bill in 2019 that would have let doctors prescribe lethal drugs to patients in Arkansas and two bad end-of-life bills in 2021. These were flawed measures that fundamentally disrespected the right to life.

You can read assisted suicide data from the Oregon Health Authority here.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Teens Who Use Marijuana Suffer Later in Life: New Study

Marijuana

Researchers say teens who use marijuana may be more likely to develop health problems in adulthood.

The study published in JAMA Network Open looked at health data from 1,591 individuals.

Researchers found adolescents who started using marijuana before age 15 and who used it frequently were at greater risk of needing physical and mental medical care in young adulthood, compared to those who did not use marijuana.

Adolescents who used marijuana later also faced greater risk of needing medical care for physical health conditions.

A growing body of research shows that marijuana is harmful regardless of how or why people use it.

Researchers have raised concerns about the number of teens struggling with cannabis-induced mental disorders.

Heavy marijuana use is linked to paranoia, schizophrenia, self-harm, and other serious problems.

Marijuana has been tied to an increased risk for diabetes and a number of deadly heart problems — including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.

Researchers now say marijuana use doubles a person’s risk of death from heart disease. 

Experts also have found heavy marijuana use is strongly linked to a 325% increased risk of oral cancer.

In Arkansas, marijuana industry insiders worked unsuccessfully to expand marijuana via the state’s ballot initiative process in 2022 and 2024. Fortunately, neither of those bad measures passed.

All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Family Council Action Committee Recognizes 35 Legislators with 2025 Faith, Family, and Freedom Award

Current Events,

The following press release is from Family Council Action Committee:

Little Rock, Ark. – On Thursday, Family Council Action Committee recognized 35 members of the Arkansas General Assembly with its 2025 Faith, Family, and Freedom Award.

Family Council Action Committee Executive Director Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “Family Council Action Committee reviewed every vote on 24 laws that the Arkansas House and Senate passed dealing with issues like the sanctity of life, religious liberty, education, protecting the state’s ballot initiative process from special interest groups, and with vices like marijuana and alcohol. We scored each legislator on a 100-point scale. Those who achieved 90% or above or who sponsored good laws from Family Council earned this award.”

Cox said he hopes the award gives Arkansans an idea of just how conservative the Arkansas Legislature is. “One of the most common questions I hear from people around the state is, ‘How did my legislator vote?’ That’s the question we want to help answer. This award isn’t an endorsement of any candidate or political party. It does not measure any lawmakers’ personal integrity, commitment to their faith, work ethic, or their rapport with Family Council Action Committee. It simply recognizes lawmakers who sponsored good legislation and consistently voted in support of good legislation.”

The following 21 state representatives and 14 state senators earned Family Council Action Committee’s 2025 Faith, Family, and Freedom Award:

  • Rep. Sonia Barker
  • Rep. Mary Bentley
  • Rep. Harlan Breaux
  • Rep. Alyssa Brown
  • Rep. Karilyn Brown
  • Rep. Cindy Crawford
  • Rep. Hope Duke
  • Rep. Tony Furman
  • Rep. Jimmy Gazaway
  • Rep. Mike Holcomb
  • Rep. Lane Jean
  • Rep. Lee Johnson
  • Rep. Jack Ladyman
  • Rep. Robin Lundstrum
  • Rep. Roger Lynch
  • Rep. John Maddox
  • Rep. Ryan Rose
  • Rep. Randy Torres
  • Rep. Dwight Tosh
  • Rep. Kendon Underwood
  • Rep. Carlton Wing
  • Sen. Ron Caldwell
  • Sen. Alan Clark
  • Sen. Tyler Dees
  • Sen. John Payton
  • Sen. Ben Gilmore
  • Sen. Kim Hammer
  • Sen. Jimmy Hickey
  • Sen. Blake Johnson
  • Sen. Mark Johnson
  • Sen. Clint Penzo
  • Sen. Jim Petty
  • Sen. Terry Rice
  • Sen. Gary Stubblefield
  • Sen. Dan Sullivan

Cox praised the entire Arkansas General Assembly for its commitment to family values. “I have often said that this Arkansas General Assembly may be the finest ever to serve in our Capitol. Arkansas has enacted great laws over the years, and the fact that so many legislators would sponsor and vote for good laws and vote against bad laws speaks volumes about Arkansas’ elected officials. We want to commend these legislators for promoting, protecting, and strengthening traditional family values during the 2025 legislative session.”

Family Council Action Committee is a conservative, pro-family, Christian 501(c)(4) organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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