“The position taken by the Attorney General is constitutionally sound and represents a measured and balanced approach in dealing with this most complex and emotional issue,” said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ. “There is a critical difference between prescribing drugs to manage pain – which is certainly protected under this directive – and prescribing medication to end a life. And while everyone acknowledges that dealing with a terminal illness is very difficult, the Attorney General’s decision is appropriate and necessary at a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult to preserve human life in our culture. We are confident the Attorney General’s directive will survive the legal challenge in Oregon and serve as a symbol of hope and encouragement in the defense and support of life.”

On November 6th, Ashcroft issued a directive that said assisting suicide is not a “legitimate medical purpose” and said that prescribing, dispensing, or administering federally controlled substances to assist suicide violates the Controlled Substances Act.

Ashcroft said the directive means that Oregon doctors who use the assisted-suicide law would lose their licenses to prescribe federally controlled drugs. Under the Oregon law, doctors may provide – but not administer – a lethal prescription to terminally ill adult state residents.

The state of Oregon sued Ashcroft in U.S. District Court and a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the implementation of the directive.

The ACLJ said the Attorney General’s position is legally correct and is filing an amicus brief today in U.S. District Court in Oregon supporting Ashcroft’s position.

The ACLJ is a public interest law firm and educational organization that specializes in constitutional law and works in defense of pro-life issues. The ACLJ is headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA and its web site address is www.aclj.org.