97-06-26 President on Court Decision on Physician-Assisted Suicide

Keywords: Government, Healthcare, Judicial-System, President, 
Principal-Statement, Social, Social-Values, Topical-Remarks

Document-Id: PDI://OMA.EOP.GOV.US/1997/6/26/5.TEXT.1

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                                      June 26, 1997

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

I am very pleased with today's Supreme Court decision which accepted 
my Administration's position that states may ban physician-assisted
suicide. The decision is a victory for all Americans -- it prevents 
us from going down a very dangerous and troubling path on this difficult
and often agonizing issue.

With today's decision, the Court voices its concern that there is a
significant distinction between assisting in death and allowing death 
to occur. Not only is this an important legal distinction, it is also a
distinction of deep moral and ethical implications.

I have a great deal of sympathy and a profound respect for those who
suffer from incurable illnesses, and for their families. I have had a
number of family members die from painful and protracted illnesses.
Even so, I have always expressed my strong opposition to physician-
assisted suicide. I believe that it is wrong and have always believed
it to be wrong.

This issue is unavoidably heartrending, and we must never ignore the
agony of terminally ill patients, but the Supreme Court made the right
decision today. The risks and consequences of physician-assisted
suicide are simply too great.

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