DEA THREATENS DOCS WHO ASSIST SUICIDE

By Brad Cain
Associated Press Writer

SALEM, Ore. (AP) A week after Oregon voters affirmed the state's law
allowing doctorassisted suicide, some physicians are holding off on
writing prescriptions for lethal drugs for fear of being punished by the
federal government.

Despite what Orgeon voters say, the Drug Enforcement Administration is
warning doctors they risk losing their license to write prescriptions if
they help someone kill themselves.

"If I were to lose my DEA license, my practice would close," Dr. Peter
Rasmussen, an outspoken supporter of assisted suicide, said Tuesday.

Oregon approved a law three years ago that permits doctors to dispense
drugs for the purpose of suicide, but legal challenges prevented it from
taking effect. Voters reaffirmed the law last week when a ballot questions
seeking the law's repeal was defeated.

However, DEA Administrator Thomas Constantine warned that doctors who take
part in assisted suicides would be violating federal narcotics law and risk
losing their licenses to prescribe drugs.

Physicians are licensed to practice medicine by the states, but it is the
DEA that registers doctors to prescribe drugs.

The Justice Department, which would be responsible for enforcing such a
revocation, has yet to determine if the DEA position is a correct reading
of federal law, department spokesman Gregory King said.

The quandary has left Oregon doctors confused and worried.

"It's a big deal," said James Kronenberg, spokesman for the Oregon Medical
Association. "We're telling them, `You may lose your DEA license. They're
not fooling.'"

Oregon's senators disagree over what is to be done.

Republican Gordon Smith, who opposes assisted suicide, said he let the
White House know that he agrees with the DEA and that state law must be
consistent with federal law.

"It is not unreasonable for the federal government to have concern about
this," he said. "This is not a small issue, and this is not a practice
which will stop at the borders of Oregon."

Democrat Ron Wyden, who also opposes assisted suicide, said the federal
government should nonetheless abide by the will of Oregon voters.

"The people of Oregon voted `no' on the repeal, and what I'm telling the
Clinton administration and the congressional leadership is, `What part of
"no" do you folks not understand?'" Wyden said.

Meanwhile, Rasmussen said he and other physicians who want to be able to
help terminally ill patients end their suffering are frustrated.

"I'm real unhappy," Rasmussen said. "This is a real setback for people who
would like to have assisted suicide available to them."