Dore Expert Witness Affidavit

Below, an excerpt from the expert witness affidavit of Attorney Margaret K. Dore, filed in the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa, SCA Case No: 531/2015. 

The affidavit, including attachments, can be viewed by clicking here.

The Oregon and Washington Acts

12.  The Oregon and Washington "Death with Dignity Acts" legalize physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia as those terms are traditionally defined. See memo, pp. 2-3 (regarding definitions)  at "MD."

13.   Oregon's act went into effect in 1997.  Washington's act, which is modelled on Oregon's act, went into effect in 2009. Both acts were passed by ballot measures in which voters were promised that "only" the patient would be allowed to administer the lethal dose. There is, however, no such language in either act. See memo, pp. 10- 12 at “MD2,”and article at  “MD4.” Indeed, both acts allow someone else to administer the lethal dose to the patient, which is euthanasia. Id.