Elder abuse – the ‘long-term grinding down of the soul’

What if my doctor says no to my request to have him/her assist me in using the Act?

Call Compassion & Choices of Oregon – [phone number provided] – to discuss all of the options and choices about end-of-life care. We will provide a Client Information Pamphlet that explains in detail all of the options and choices, including a script on how to talk to a doctor about one's wishes. We may be able to recommend another doctor if the patient's doctor continues to refuse to assist the patient in using the Act as one of their end-of-life options.(Emphasis added)

It is said that, if a law can be abused, it will be abused. Some may say that this is no reason not to create laws because otherwise we would have no laws at all. But few laws can ever be abused to the extent that the risk of abuse entails the wrongful loss of one's life.