Physician-assisted suicide: When pain trails other concerns

The concerns stated by those who received suicide assistance in Oregon call into question why such a practice is needed.

Editorial. March 19, 2001.

The latest figures on physician-assisted suicide are in from Oregon. What was striking from the first year's numbers remains the same now, three years into the law. Concern over pain relief still trails the list of reasons for seeking assistance from a physician in committing suicide.

The specter of intractable pain is the most urgent and compelling argument that supporters of physician-assisted suicide can muster. It was used on Oregon voters to bring about the nation's only state law so far; expect it to be raised whenever the issue goes on a referendum ballot or before statehouse lawmakers. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld state laws forbidding physician-assisted suicide, while also allowing states to permit the practice. In their concurring opinions to cases upholding the bans (Oregon's law was not at issue) several justices suggested pain as a reason why physician-assisted suicide could be permissible.

In the latest Oregon figures, concern over pain was cited by just under a third of the 27 individuals who went through with a physician-assisted suicide in 2000, the highest percentage so far. In the first year, only 12% of those who completed an assisted suicide had told their physicians that pain was a concern. Pain is on a standard list of issues used by Oregon to gain insight into why patients request suicide aid. [...]