Year: 2000 Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, v.6, no.2, (June 2000), p.503-525 SIEC No: 20011515

Oregon voters approved the first American statute authorizing physician-assisted suicide in 1994. The authors identify some positive & negative psychological effects of laws such as Oregon’s on patients. Generally, it is concluded, on the basis of psychological theory & the available data, that laws such as Oregon’s benefit patients psychologically. Undoubtedly, however, there exist important possible antitherapeutic effects on patients. The authors hope that discussion of both therapeutic & antitherapeutic consequences will stimulate future research by social scientists in this area. (122 notes)