Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Oregon Measure 51, Repeal of Physician-Assisted Death Law Initiative (1997)
| Oregon Measure 51 | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Election date |
|
| Topic Assisted death policy |
|
| Status |
|
| Type Legislatively referred state statute |
Origin |
Oregon Measure 51 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred state statute in Oregon on November 4, 1997. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported repealing Measure 16, which voters approved in 1994, to allow persons suffering from a terminal disease to obtain a physician’s prescription for drugs to end his or her life. |
A "no" vote opposed repealing Measure 16, thus keeping the law allowing persons suffering from a terminal disease to obtain a physician’s prescription for drugs to end his or her life. |
Election results
|
Oregon Measure 51 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 445,830 | 40.09% | ||
|
|
666,275 | 59.91% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Measure 51 was as follows:
| “ | Repeals Law Allowing Terminally Ill Adults to Obtain Lethal Prescription. RESULT OF “YES" VOTE: “Yes” vote repeals law allowing terminally ill adults to obtain physician's prescription for lethal drugs. RESULT OF “NO” VOTE: “No” vote retains law allowing terminally ill adults to obtain physician’s prescription for lethal drugs. | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ |
Repeals Measure 16, adopted by voters in 1994. That law: Allows terminally ill adult Oregon residents voluntary informed choice to obtain physician’s prescription for lethal drugs when physicians predict patient’s death within 6 months; Requires 15-day waiting period; 2 oral, 1 written request; second physician’s opinion; counseling for patients with impaired judgment from depression; Gives health care providers immunity from civil, criminal liability for good faith compliance. Permits person choice whether to notify next of kin. Allows health care providers to refuse to participate. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Oregon State Legislature to place a state statute on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 31 votes in the Oregon House of Representatives and 16 votes in the Oregon State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Statutes do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
See also
External links
Footnotes
| |||||
