Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act

To the Editor The article by Blanke et al provides an optimistic examination of physician-assisted suicide, especially in relation to cancer research. However, this seems to be a slippery slope to tread. By the authors' own admission, there are only a small number of cases in which physician-assisted suicide was used as a means of pain relief, with the others citing reasons of autonomy, lack of enjoyment in life, and a lessening of their dignity. If society already approves of the use of physician-assisted suicide in cases not based on physical pain, it logically follows that more and more controversial reasons for physician-assisted suicide become acceptable. There is no clear place to draw the line.

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