Can people simply hasten death through overdoses or by refusing medication, nutrition or hydration?
Ironically, such measures can take several weeks before resulting in death and may include unanticipated and agonizing effects — effects that often can only be palliated through days or weeks of deep sedation. In contrast, the purpose of the Oregon law is to provide dying patients with the control, predictability and peace of mind that comes with knowing the how and when of death.
