Physician-assisted suicide.

On election day, November 14, 1994, Oregon voters elected a physician, Dr. John Kitzhaber, as their governor and, simultaneously, granted physicians the legal authority to help people end their own lives. By passing Ballot Measure 16,1 the voters decided that a physician may, at a patient's request, prescribe a medication "for the purpose of ending his or her life in a humane and dignified manner." 2 The political power to govern a state and the moral power to collaborate in ending a life were conferred by the citizens in the same democratic election. Obviously, the citizens can bestow political power. It is not clear that they can or should bestow the legal authorization to terminate life by medical means. This is the debate over legalizing euthanasia. This Article briefly summarizes the history of the euthanasia debate in the United States, describes the classical arguments for and against euthanasia, examines the terms of the current debate, and concludes that while society may want to recognize a competent patient's right to escape the suffering of a terminal illness, it should do so with humility-and with caution.