A federal judge has temporarily blocked the DEA from going after doctors in Oregon who prescribe drugs that help terminally ill patients die. This is presently allowed in Oregon per a popular referendum.
On Wednesday, Oregon’s attorney general filed a lawsuit in federal court in Portland, arguing that Ashcroft was overstepping his authority and that his attempt to shut down physician-assisted suicide in Oregon was unconstitutional because it interferes with a state’s right to oversee its own medical and health care systems. … U.S. District Judge Robert Jones granted the temporary restraining order requested by Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers and blocked Ashcroft and the DEA from pursuing doctors in the state.
It still seems to me that the DoJ has much better things to do than pursue doctors who act legally under state law, which law has allowed all of 70 terminally ill to die. The War on Terrorism aside, doesn’t the DEA have its own “War” that you’d think would be taking all of its attention?
(Via NextDraft)