• November 8 - Oregon voters pass Measure 16, the first physician aid-in-dying law in the world, by 51 percent to 49 percent. Opponents of aid in dying promptly bring a federal court lawsuit seeking to enjoin Measure 16 from being enforced, arguing that it is unconstitutional. • December 7 - In the Oregon lawsuit, U.S. District Court Judge J. Michael Hogan enters a preliminary injunction that suspends Measure 16 from becoming effective pending further review. • December 15 – A New York federal district judge rules against Dr. Quill and his co-plaintiffs, dismissing Quill v. Vacco. The plaintiffs appeal to the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. 1995 • March 9 – The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirms Judge Rothstein’s decision in Compassion in Dying v. State of Washington, finding that Washington’s statute prohibiting assistance in suicide is unconstitutional to the extent that it interferes with the doctor-patient relationship when a physician seeks to assist a terminally ill, imminently dying, competent adult patient in his death. The State of Washington appeals this decision to the Supreme Court of the United States. • May 15 - Dr. Jack Kevorkian is acquitted of charges that he violated the common law of Michigan by assisting in the deaths of Marjorie Wantz and Sherry Miller. • August 7 - In Oregon, Judge Hogan declares Measure 16 unconstitutional, making the injunction permanent. This decision is appealed to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. • September 22 - In Australia, the first case of death occurs in Darwin under the new law of the Northern Territory, which became effective on July 1. • November 13 - Janet Good, founder of The Hemlock Society of Michigan, is indicted for assisting a suicide, conspiring to assist a suicide (felonies punishable by 5 years in prison and $10,000 fine) and for practicing medicine without authorization and conspiring to practice medicine without authorization (felonies punishable by
• November 8 - Oregon voters pass Measure 16, the first physician aid-in-dying law in the world, by 51 percent to 49 percent. Opponents of aid in dying promptly bring a federal court lawsuit seeking to enjoin Measure 16 from being enforced, arguing that it is unconstitutional. • December 7 - In the Oregon lawsuit, U.S. District Court Judge J. Michael Hogan enters a preliminary injunction that suspends Measure 16 from becoming effective pending further review. • December 15 – A New York federal district judge rules against Dr. Quill and his co-plaintiffs, dismissing Quill v. Vacco. The plaintiffs appeal to the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. 1995 • March 9 – The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirms Judge Rothstein’s decision in Compassion in Dying v. State of Washington, finding that Washington’s statute prohibiting assistance in suicide is unconstitutional to the extent that it interferes with the doctor-patient relationship when a physician seeks to assist a terminally ill, imminently dying, competent adult patient in his death. The State of Washington appeals this decision to the Supreme Court of the United States. • May 15 - Dr. Jack Kevorkian is acquitted of charges that he violated the common law of Michigan by assisting in the deaths of Marjorie Wantz and Sherry Miller. • August 7 - In Oregon, Judge Hogan declares Measure 16 unconstitutional, making the injunction permanent. This decision is appealed to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. • September 22 - In Australia, the first case of death occurs in Darwin under the new law of the Northern Territory, which became effective on July 1. • November 13 - Janet Good, founder of The Hemlock Society of Michigan, is indicted for assisting a suicide, conspiring to assist a suicide (felonies punishable by 5 years in prison and $10,000 fine) and for practicing medicine without authorization and conspiring to practice medicine without authorization (felonies punishable by