Measure 51 of 1997 would have repealed Oregon's Death with Dignity Act (also known as Measure 16), which legalized doctor-assisted euthanasia. It was sent to the ballot by the Oregon Legislative Assembly. The measure was defeated in the 4 November 1997 special election with 445,830 votes in favor, and 666,275 votes against.[1] 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... State nickname: Beaver State Other U.S. States Capital Salem Largest city Portland Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) Official languages None Area 255,026 km² (9th)  - Land 248,849 km²  - Water 6,177 km² (2. ... Measure 16 of 1994 established Oregons Death with Dignity Act, which legalizes physician-assisted suicide with certain restrictions, making Oregon the first U.S. state and one of the first jurisdictions in the world to officially do so. ... Euthanasia (Greek, good death) is the practice of killing a person or animal, in a painless or minimally painful way, for merciful reasons, usually to end their suffering. ... A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. ... November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ...

The three years after Oregonians passed the Death with Dignity Act were marked with controversy. Opponents of the Death with Dignity Act, seeking to repeal the law, got the legislature to refer Measure 51 to the voters, hoping that the voters would have changed their mind in the intervening years.

The debate over Measure 51 found a re-hashing of the standard arguments about assisted suicide. (See the euthanasia article for more information). Proponents of Measure 51 also argued that the Death with Dignity Law suffered from several flaws, including a lack of a mandatory counseling provision, a family notification provision, strong reporting requirements, or a strong residency requirement.[2] Measure 51 opponents argued that sending the measure back to voters was disrespectful considering they had already passed Measure 16 via the initiative process. They also felt that the safeguards in the Death with Dignity Act were adequate. Euthanasia (Greek, good death) is the practice of killing a person or animal, in a painless or minimally painful way, for merciful reasons, usually to end their suffering. ... Psychotherapy is a set of techniques believed to cure or to help solve behavioral and other psychological problems in humans. ... A family of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 1997 A family is a domestic group of people, or a number of domestic groups affiliated by blood or by a variety of legal ties such as marriage, domestic partnership, adoption, surname and in some cases slavery as was the case in the... A reporter is a type of journalist who researches and presents information in certain types of mass media. ... Residency is a stage of postgraduate medical training in North America which leads to eligibility for board certification in a primary care or referral specialty. ... In political science, the initiative (also known as popular or citizens initiative) provides a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote on a proposed statute, constitutional amendment, charter amendment or ordinance. ...

External links

• Oregon Voter's Guide page on Measure 51--includes the full text of the measure, and arguments for and against