Gonzales versus Oregon: The Oregon Death with Dignity Act meets the Controlled Substances Act

The decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Gonzales v. Oregon represents the most recent battle in a long war of attrition waged by the opponents of the practice of physician-assisted suicide in general and the Oregon Death with Dignity Act in particular. The history of the Oregon law and the many challenges to it provide pertinent background to understanding important elements of the majority and dissenting opinions in this case and suggest where this seemingly intractable societal debate may be headed.