The Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Henry Hyde (R-IL) and James Oberstar (D-MN), and in the Senate by Senator Don Nickles (R-OK), to reinstate a November 1997 Drug Enforcement Administration ruling that prohibits "delivering, dispensing or prescribing a controlled substance with the intent of assisting a suicide." This ruling was overturned by Attorney General Janet Reno on June 5, 1998.

"We should provide people who are suicidal with adequate physical, emotional and mental support, not with death," said Burke Balch, Director Medical Ethics for the National Right to Life Committee. He continued, "It is important to understand that under Reno's ruling, despite its consequences for Oregon, federally controlled substances may not be used to assist suicide in the vast majority of states where assisting suicide is against state law."

Some opponents claim the legislation would interfere with appropriate pain control. However, the Act adds new language to the Controlled Substances Act making a distinction between providing a controlled substance for the purpose of pain relief, even with the risk of death, and providing controlled substances for the purpose of causing death. "Currently, there is no clear protection for doctors who need to give high doses of controlled substances for pain relief ù protection the bill would add. The bill also assures that doctors who are experts in pain relief, instead of medically untrained agents, will play the key role in evaluating doctors' prescriptions," explained Mr. Balch.

Please contact your Congressman and both Virginia Senators and ask them to support this important bill.

Published in VSHL Lifesaver - August 1998