Suicide Advocates Continue to Promote “Medical Aid in Dying” in U.S. and Abroad
Advocates for assisted suicide continue to promote laws letting people receive prescriptions for lethal drugs.
In Ohio, legislators recently introduced an assisted suicide measure, arguing that “medical aid in dying” provides terminally ill people with a compassionate option. But our friends at the Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) rightly called the legislation “a Trojan horse for mandated death” that would pressure vulnerable people to end their lives via assisted suicide.
Experiences elsewhere have shown CCV’s concerns about assisted suicide are spot on.
In 1997, Oregon became the first state in America to legalize physician-assisted suicide, and since then policymakers have worked to make it easier for people to receive prescriptions for lethal drugs. In fact, a record 637 lethal prescriptions for assisted suicide were written in Oregon last year.
But out of those hundreds of patients, only two were referred for psychiatric evaluation before being given a prescription for suicide. That is a serious failure.
Besides failing to address patients’ mental and emotional health concerns, there is evidence that many may people feel financially pressured to opt for assisted suicide. More than one in 20 people (6%) who asked for assisted suicide in Oregon last year said they were concerned about the financial implications of medical treatment. That’s deeply concerning.
Despite these problems, supporters of assisted suicide have pushed to expand it globally. Forbes reports:
“In Belgium, nearly 4,500 patients died from medically-assisted suicide in 2025, accounting for 4% of all deaths. And in Spain, more than 1,000 patients received physician-assisted death last year. Other countries—including Luxembourg, Switzerland and Austria—have also legalized medically assisted dying. In the United Kingdom, the House of Commons passed an assisted-dying bill that has since stalled in the House of Lords.
“What’s notable is not just the growth of these programs but their scope.
“In some countries, eligibility has expanded beyond patients who are terminally ill to include those with chronic conditions or, in rare cases, severe psychological distress.”
Patients who are in distress need counseling and support — not a deadly prescription.
Experience has shown that assisted suicide doesn’t help people who are sick or dying, and it doesn’t remain limited to a few cases.
In the U.S., insurance companies have refused to pay for patients’ medical care, but have offered to cover assisted suicide drugs.
Patients in Europe and Canada reportedly have been denied care or actively euthanized as a result of assisted suicide laws.
In some countries, assisted suicide and euthanasia are driving palliative care specialists to quit. That hurts everyone.
Assisted suicide fundamentally changes the doctor-patient relationship from healing to killing.
The Hippocratic Oath promises to “first, do no harm.” Prescribing lethal drugs violates that sacred trust.
All of this underscores why Family Council has strongly opposed assisted suicide in Arkansas.
Being pro-life means believing innocent human life is sacred from conception until natural death.
Just like abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide violate the sanctity of innocent human life.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
Latest Oregon Report Shows Sobering Statistics on Assisted Suicide
Oregon’s 2025 “Death with Dignity Act” report shows a staggering number of people ended their lives under the state’s assisted suicide law last year.
In 1997, Oregon became the first state in America to legalize physician-assisted suicide, and since then policymakers have worked to make it easier for people to receive a prescription for lethal drugs.
Family Council has written repeatedly about the problems with Oregon’s assisted suicide law over the years.
Oregon’s 2025 reports show that a record 637 lethal prescriptions for assisted suicide were written last year.
Of the people who ended their lives in Oregon, most did not indicate they were concerned about managing their pain in the face of a terminal illness.
Instead, loss of autonomy, being less able to engage in activities that make life enjoyable, and loss of dignity were the reasons most people cited for requesting a lethal prescription.
Only two people were referred for psychiatric evaluation last year before ending their lives.
Nearly 40% said they were concerned about being a burden to family, friends, or caregivers, and more than one in 20 people (6%) who opted for assisted suicide in Oregon last year said they were concerned about the financial implications of medical treatment. That’s deeply concerning.
Patients who are lonely and feel like they are losing control over their lives need counseling and support — not a deadly prescription.
Experience has shown that assisted suicide doesn’t help people who are sick or dying, and it doesn’t remain limited to a few cases.
In the U.S., insurance companies have refused to pay for patients’ medical care, but have offered to cover assisted suicide drugs.
Patients in Europe and Canada reportedly have been denied care or actively euthanized as a result of assisted suicide laws.
Stories like these are part of the reason why Family Council has strongly opposed assisted suicide legislation in Arkansas.
Being pro-life means believing innocent human life is sacred from conception until natural death.
Just like abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide violate the sanctity of innocent human life.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.