News Release

Contact: Greg Eddleston - geddleston@dwd.org / (503) 228.4415

Portland, OR - On Wednesday, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in Oregon v. Ashcroft - a continuation of the legal case that began with the Attorney General's intrusion into state regulated medical practices in November 2001.  Last spring, a U.S. District Court Judge ruled in favor of the Death with Dignity law stating, "Through his directive, Ashcroft evidently sought to stifle an ongoing 'earnest and profound debate' in the various states concerning physician-assisted suicide."

Oregon Death with Dignity is the legal defense, public policy non-profit that formed to help pass and defend the will of Oregon voters.

A decision from the Ninth Circuit is expected in the late summer.  We will keep you informed on the progress of the case online at www.dwd.org.

Attendee Bios

ELI STUTSMAN (attorney presenting oral argument) is a Portland attorney representing Dr. Peter Rasmussen and pharmacist David Hochhalter in the case against Attorney General John Ashcroft.  Stutsman is one of the principal authors of the Oregon Death with Dignity law and was the strategist behind the 1994 and 1997 electoral victories that passed the law.  Stutsman defended the law in federal court between 1994 and 1997 and has been instrumental in strategies to defend Oregon's law throughout its implementation.

DR. PETER RASMUSSEN (plaintiff) is a Salem physician who is a plaintiff in the case against Attorney General John Ashcroft.  Rasmussen is a medical oncologist, board certified in hospice and palliative medicine and has prescribed under the Oregon Death with Dignity law. 

SCOTT SWENSON (Oregon Death with Dignity Center) is the Executive Director of the Oregon Death with Dignity Center.  Oregon Death with Dignity is supporting the case of the physician and pharmacist against the Ashcroft ruling through its legal defense and education center and also works through its political action fund to defend and promote Oregon's law nationally.

LOUIS COLEMAN HALL (Secretary, AUTONOMY) has been active with ADAPT, Chicago, where he worked on transit issues, and he participated in the national disability rally in Washington, D.C. to enact the ADA in 1990. He has served on the Board of the Oregon Paralyzed Veterans of America (OPVA), and has served as coordinator of volunteers of the OPVA's homeless veterans project. He also organized and coordinated the Sixth Anniversary Celebration of the ADA in Portland, Oregon in 1996.

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