15. Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act (1997)
In 1997, Oregon legalized physician-assisted suicide through its Death with Dignity Act, allowing terminally ill individuals to end their lives via the voluntary self-administration of lethal medications prescribed by a physician. This legislation directly challenged federal law and ignited national ethical and legal debates. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually upheld Oregon’s law, reinforcing states’ authority to set policies in certain domains (oregon.gov).
