Oregon doctor has means, but not desire to die yet

A terminally ill retired physician now has the needed prescription for physician-assisted suicide.

By Andis Robeznieks, AMNews staff. Oct. 13, 2003.

A decision from the U.S. Appellate Court on U.S. Attorney General's John Ashcroft's efforts to block Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law is expected soon, and observers check the 9th Circuit Court's Web site every day to see if there's any news.

One man in particular, Allison B. Willeford, MD, was especially interested, but he's not as concerned anymore. That's because the retired family physician and surgeon with terminal cancer recently obtained his lethal prescription of Nembutal.

"It was $320 for a $5 prescription, but I have it now, and they can't take it back," said Dr. Willeford, who resides at an assisted-living center in rural Molalla, Ore. "If the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals says it's illegal, it's illegal, but this one has been beat -- if you know what I'm saying."

Since Oregon became the only state to allow physician-assisted suicide in 1997, 129 people have used the law to hasten their deaths. George Eighmey, executive director of Compassion in Dying, said at least five of those were physicians, but Dr. Willeford is the first to go public.

"I would like to give this as much publicity as I can before I die," Dr. Willeford said. "It's a good law, and Oregon hasn't abused it. So I just wish we could get Washington off our backs."