High Court Backs Oregon Assisted Suicide Law

By Nina Totenberg

Published January 17, 2006 at 1:45 PM EST

The Supreme Court Tuesday ruled in favor of Oregon's law allowing doctors to help terminally ill patients commit suicide. The law allows doctors to prescribe lethal narcotics to those who have been certified by two physicians as psychologically unimpaired and having less than six months to live.

Related Content

First look: Photos from Paris Olympics opening ceremony

Alana Wise

Images from the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games offer a stunning glimpse into the dramatic and heavily Parisian-themed day.
Park Fire in California could continue growing exponentially, Cal Fire officer says

Ezra Romero

Cal Fire has confirmed that over a hundred structures have been damaged in the Park Fire, which grew overnight near Chico, Calif. Difficult firefighting conditions are forecast through Friday night.
Checking in with Black voters in Georgia about the election, now that Biden is out

Juma Sei

Some voters who could be key to deciding who wins Georgia. What do they think about Vice President Harris becoming the frontrunner in the race to be the Democratic nominee?
Tahiti’s waves are a matter of ‘life and death’ for surfing Olympics

Jordan-Marie Smith

Tahiti's Teahupo'o wave has a slew of riders for the Paris 2024 Olympics. NPR finds out why it's called one of the most dangerous waves.
Researchers are revising botanical names to address troubling connotations

Ari Daniel

Since the mid-1700s, researchers have classified life with scientific names. But some of them have problematic histories and connotations. The botanical community is trying to tackle this issue.

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.