Religious groups decry federal ruling

PORTLAND, Ore. — Several religious groups have criticized the ruling April 17 by a federal judge that invalidates an order by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft that would have overturned Oregon’s law permitting physician-assisted suicide.

“The determination of what constitutes a legitimate medical practice or purpose traditionally has been left to the individual states,” wrote U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones of Portland, Ore.

“To allow an attorney general — an appointed executive whose tenure depends entirely on whatever administration occupies the White House — to determine the legitimacy of a particular medical practice without a specific congressional grant of such authority would be unprecedented and extraordinary.”