The Oregon Department of Human Services no longer will use the phrase "physician-assisted suicide" when referring to the state's unique law.

But the new phrase "physician-assisted death" could be as controversial as the old one.

People on both sides of the debate about Oregon's Death with Dignity Act have been arguing about what to call the practice since 1994, when voters approved the law.

Advocates of the law and patients thinking about asking for a lethal prescription have said it is offensive to use the word "suicide."

Before her death in August, Charlene Andrews of Salem told the National Press Club, "Please do not call it suicide. That is an insult to my fight against cancer. With cancer, we know when there are no treatment options."

Andrews died without lethal medication.

Mike Gander of Salem took care of his son and mother-in-law while they were dying. He said this debate about words is similar to the one regarding abortion.

"It's like using the terminology 'choice' when it comes to abortion," he said. "No one wants to use the word 'abortion'; they want to use the word 'choice.' But the terminology -- whether accurate or inaccurate -- still results in the same thing. 'Physician-assisted death' is the same as suicide."

Compassion & Choices, a national group that supports patients who want to use Oregon's law, formally asked the agency to review its wording in light of statute's language.

Oregon Department of Human Services officials said the name change better reflects the agency's role as a neutral party that collects data and provides information.

The statute says, "Actions taken in accordance with (Oregon's Death With Dignity Act) shall not, for any purpose, constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing or homicide, under the law."

"This will be a sea change because how you speak of things strongly influences how you think of them," said Kathryn Tucker, the director of legal affairs for Compassion & Choices.

Gayle Atteberry, the executive director of Oregon Right to Life, said the language change is "outrageous."

"They have changed it to a euphemism to make it more palatable," she said. "Do they think it is going to make it easier for people to kill themselves?"

bcasper@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 589-6994

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