Thursday, February 9, 2023

Oregon weighs nixing residency requirement for euthanasia, officially opening door for suicide tourism

Oregon lawmakers are debating putting forth a bill that would officially repeal the residency requirement to seek physician-assisted suicide, as residents express concerns about the state becoming a “death magnet.”

House Bill 2279 was introduced in early January and repeals the residency requirement for the Death with Dignity Act. This would allow adults suffering from a terminal illness who live in states that do not allow physician-assisted death to seek the treatment in Oregon. The bill is the result of 2022 lawsuit where physicians argued the residency requirement violates the United States Constitution. As a result, state agencies no longer enforce the residency requirement, however, HB 2297 would codify this change. At this time there are no legislative sponsors for the bill.

Residents have raised concerns about “death tourism” and think the legislature should focus more on Oregonians rather than making rules that benefits those living outside the state.

For more information see Jessica Chasmar “Oregon weighs nixing residency requirement for euthanasia, officially opening door for suicide tourism,” Fox News, February 9, 2023.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/trusts_estates_prof/2023/02/oregon-weighs-nixing-residency-requirement-for-euthanasia-officially-opening-door-for-suicide-tourism.html

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