Many people remain opposed to doctor-assisted suicide, often on moral or religious grounds.

While Oregon is the only state to have passed a law allowing doctor-assisted suicide, eight others are considering such legislation.

It was the 25th doctor-assisted suicide he had attended.

And so, while doctor-assisted suicide is widely acknowledged, there are no professional guidelines for it.

Today doctor-assisted suicide is a subject of vigorous debate, national headlines and state legislation.

So what in the Constitution makes doctor-assisted suicide any of Congress's business?

The public seems to be of two minds about doctor-assisted suicide.

Then, after a court fight of three years, they approved doctor-assisted suicide by an even larger margin last fall.

At least with doctor-assisted suicide, he said, the patients ask to die and take the lethal medicine themselves.

If it takes effect as scheduled on Dec. 8, the law will be the first in the nation to allow doctor-assisted suicide.