Oregon has been America’s grim national leader on the issue of suicide since 1994, when Oregonians voted 51% to 49% to make suicide lawful by means of a physician-furnished lethal overdose. Since the lifting of a 1997 injunction that had delayed the availability of physician-prescribed self harm for Oregonians, thousands have died from suicide by overdose.
Every life lost has come at least partially as a result of the lie that suicide can be medicinal—as if physicians or so-called caretakers administering a fatal overdose could call that deadly act “healthcare”. What was true yesterday remains true today—the role of the physician is never to intentionally cause harm—it is, rather, to heal and to cure.
Lois Anderson, Executive Director of Oregon Right to Life, joins Tom Shakely and Noah Brandt to share Oregon’s experience with suicide and lessons from the front lines of Oregon’s suicide prevention efforts, her work with Oregon Right to Life across the spectrum of issues, and how advocates everywhere can protect those in their communities who most at risk to forms of self-harm and violence.
