Anyone who suffers from a terminal illness or has seen a family member or close friend suffer, likely believes in the Death with Dignity Act. According to the state of Oregon, (Oregon Death with Dignity Act Records & Reports”) “On October 27, 1997, Oregon enacted the Death with Dignity Act which allows terminally ill Oregonians to end their lives through the voluntary self-administration of lethal drugs, expressly prescribed by a doctor for this purpose. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act requires the Oregon Department of Human Services to collect information on patients and physicians participating in the Act and publish an annual statistical report.” Fear and uncertainty of what will happen after death will usually weigh heavily on the patient's decision to end their life. It is a choice that must be left to the patient; however, if the patient is unable to communicate, the decision is left to the next of kin or guardian. Some politicians, religious fanatics, and pro-life activists argue that physician-assisted suicide violates the Hippocratic Oath, but most of these people have never suffered the pain and humiliation of dying slowly. Between 1997 and 2007 at least 292 people (Fogarty) ended their lives under Oregon's Death with Dignity Act. People have protested the decision to allow assisted suicide in most states and foreign countries that have considered legalizing it. The Hippocratic Oath states (“Hippocratic Oath and Law”) that doctors will not administer or suggest the use of deadly drugs even if a patient requests them. All doctors must take an oath swearing to practice medicine ethically. Doctors who dishonor their oath are generally not punished unless they break the law. The most…half of the paper…one day will depend on that person. Works Cited Oregon Death with Dignity Act Records and Reports. , Network. December 6, 2010.Fogarty, Collin. “Oregon's Death with Dignity Law turns 10.” October 24, 2007. Web. Dec. 6, 2010."Hippocratic Oath and Law." Harvard Classics. 38. P. F. Collier and Son, 1910. Web. December 6, 2010. “Jack Kevorkian.” NNBD Profile. Network. 6 Dec 2010.Matthew, Merill. •“Would physician-assisted suicide save the healthcare system money?”, Physician-assisted suicide: Expanding the debate. 1998. Print. Popik, Jennifer. "Terminally ill Oregon patients denied treatment but reminded they can choose physician-assisted suicide."." PRL News July 2008, 35: 24. Print."Why Living Wills/Advance Directives Are a Part Essentials of Estate Planning,” Journal of Financial Service Professionals. September 2005. Web December 6, 2010.