There is a distinction between suicide and physician-assisted suicide. The misconception that derives from this debate is that permitting assisted suicide to patients is as equal as committing suicide. That is incorrect. In physician-assisted suicide, it only refers to patients who has six months or less to live. According to the Oregon's law, only residents who are aged 18 or over and have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than six months are qualified to request a prescription for medication to end their life. (Courtesy of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act) Patients must take the medication themselves .Euthanasia (involving a physician's active intervention) is not permitted or legal. The patient's request for assisted suicide must be confirmed by a consulting physician and both physicians must determine that the patient is capable of making his or her own decision and does not have a mental health condition that impairs his or her decision. The patient must request two oral and one written requests for the medication, and at least 15 days must be between the first and the final request.
*Information was used from Oregon's Death with Dignity Act