JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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The Oregon Death with Dignity Act, passed by ballot measure in 1994 and enacted in October 1997, legalized physician-assisted suicide for competent, terminally ill Oregonians, but little is known about the effects of the act on clinical practice or physician perspective. ⋯ Most Oregon physicians who care for terminally ill patients report that since 1994 they have made efforts to improve their ability to care for these patients and many have had conversations with patients about assisted suicide.