TWO SENATORS CALL FOR BETTER PAIN TREATMENT

Oregon's two U.S. senators introduced a bill Monday to improve pain
treatment for the dying and shift the national debate away from
physician-assisted suicide.

The bill by Sens. Ron Wyden, a Democrat, and Gordon Smith, a Republican,
creates commissions, studies and directives that aim to improve pain
treatment for consumers, especially those in federal health programs, and
heighten awareness of pain treatment among doctors.

The bill would help consumers get resources on pain, such as via the World
Wide Web and possibly through "hot lines" that would be staffed 24 hours a
day.

Smith said he hopes the legislation will take physician-assisted suicide
out of the political arena.

"It is with the desire to relieve pain, not to kill, but to provide more
options, that I am here and honored to be a co-sponsor," he said at a news
conference.

Oregon is the first state in the nation to allow assisted suicide.