Oregon's law permitting doctor-as-sisted suicide is the only one of its kind in any American state. Since the "Death with Dignity Act" came into force seven years ago, close to 200 terminally ill patients are known to have chosen to end their lives with a cocktail of drugs. Conservatives, many of whom regard the issue with as much passion as they do abortion, have long sought to overturn the law. This week, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge by the Bush administration.
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