The Bush administration asked a federal appellate court July 12 to reconsider its spring decision to uphold Oregon's assisted-suicide law

* The Bush administration asked a federal appellate court July 12 to reconsider its spring decision to uphold Oregon's assisted-suicide law. It would like the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to set aside its May ruling that backed the only law in the country;, that permits doctors to assist patients in hastening their deaths, the Associated Press reported.

The Justice Department said the ease, decided 2-1, should be reheard by a panel of 11 judges. The three-judge panel determined that U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft cannot hold Oregon physicians criminally liable for prescribing overdoses under the voter-approved Death with Dignity Act. The administration believes federal drug laws bar doctors from dispensing medication that would be used to end the life of a patient. Eli Stutsman, a lawyer who represents a doctor and pharmacist in the case, said the federal government does not have authority over the state assisted-suicide law.

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