Oregon Ballot Measure 16 (1994)
Measure 16 of 1994 established the U.S. state of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act (ORS 127.800-995), which legalizes physician-assisted suicide with certain restrictions. Passage of this initiative made Oregon the first U.S. state and one of the first jurisdictions in the world to permit some terminally ill patients to determine the time of their own death.
The measure was approved in the November 8, 1994 general election. 627,980 votes (51.3%) were cast in favor, 596,018 votes (48.7%) against. Measure 51, referred in the wake of Washington v. Glucksberg by the state legislature in November, 1997, sought to repeal the Death with Dignity act, but was rejected by 60% of voters. The act was challenged by the George W. Bush administration, but was upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States in Gonzales v. Oregon in 2006.
Read more about Oregon Ballot Measure 16 (1994): The Law, Analysis of Impact, Attempts To Repeal, Documentary Film
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