Today, in Gonzales v. Oregon, the U.S. Supreme Court held in a 6-3 ruling that the Attorney General does not have authority to prevent the use of federally controlled drugs to assist suicide.

"The Court held that the use of federally controlled drugs for the purpose of assisting suicide is not 'drug abuse' because the physician is not facilitating drug addiction, but instead seeking to kill. This is a shocking conclusion since one of the things that we most fear in drug abuse is danger to the life of the addict," stated Dorothy Timbs, legislative counsel for the NRLC Robert Powell Center for Medical Ethics.

"This decision reflects the Court's interpretation of what Congress intended in passing the Federal Controlled Substances Act. Nothing in the decision suggests that Congress lacks the constitutional authority to amend the Act to make clear that federally controlled drugs may not be used to kill people."

"This sets a dangerous precedent for all vulnerable Americans, especially those with disabilities and life or health-threatening illnesses. Drugs should be used to cure and relieve pain, never to kill," said Timbs.

NRLC is the nation's largest pro-life organization, with 50 state affiliates and approximately 3,000 local affiliates nationwide. NRLC works through legislation and education to protect those threatened by abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, and assisted suicide.