[20010112]RS20677_协助自杀和管制物质法：与拟议的《止痛促进法案》相关的法律问题.pdf

Congressional Research Service ? The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20677Updated January 12, 2001 Assisted Suicide and the Controlled SubstancesAct: Legal Issues Associated with the ProposedPain Relief Promotion ActKenneth R. ThomasLegislative AttorneyAmerican Law DivisionSummaryThe Pain Relief Promotion Act, as proposed in the 106th Congress, provided thatthe Attorney General, in determining whether the registration of a doctor for theadministration of controlled substances is in the public interest, should give no force andeffect to state law authorizing or permitting assisted suicide or euthanasia. This languagewould appear to have been designed to abrogate the legal reasoning set forth by theAttorney General in a press release regarding the application of the ControlledSubstances Act to acts of physician-assisted suicide. It would not, however, appear tohave required the Attorney General to revoke such registrations; nor would it havecriminalized assisted suicide or euthanasia. This report will be updated as congressionalaction warrants.The proposed Pain Relief Promotion Act would have amended the ControlledSubstances Act to p