Problems with Assisted SuicideAmericans want to know what the report card says, in other words, what the results of the assisted suicide experiments in the Netherlands and Oregon are. We examine the relevant data and studies to arrive at a conclusion that affirms or rejects the practice. Although the New England Journal of Medicine article (02/24/00) was the first time a major medical journal in the United States had reported on problems associated with assisted suicide in the Netherlands, there had been previous warnings: in 1995, Dr. Pieter Admiraal, who has been practicing euthanasia for years in the Netherlands, warned of the risk of failure associated with assisted suicide. After explaining the preparations to be made for an assisted suicide, he writes: "Despite these measures, every doctor who decides to assist a suicide must be aware that something can go wrong, resulting in a failure of the assisted suicide." For this reason we must always be ready to proceed with active euthanasia, that is, the doctor should always have the thiopental and the muscle relaxant at hand" (to be administered in the form of a lethal injection). (Admiraal) Barbiturates are the most commonly used substances for assisted suicide in Oregon and the Netherlands. Barbiturate overdoses are known to cause distress: extreme panting and muscle spasms may occur. While losing consciousness, a person may vomit and then inhale the vomit. Panic, feelings of terror, and aggressive behavior result from drug-induced confusion. Other problems may include difficulty taking medications, the inability of medications to induce loss of consciousness, and a certain number of days passing before death occurs. (NEJM) Dr. Katrina Hedberg, co-author of Oregon's two official reports on assisted suicide, denies that there have been complications in assisted suicide deaths in Oregon. “Those things didn’t materialize,” he said. (Oregonian)But reports from Oregon indicate otherwise:* A man had difficulty during his assisted suicide and his brother-in-law had to help him die. “Not everything is right for everyone,” the person helping explained. “It wouldn't have worked without help.” [Oregon, 1/17/99 and 3/11/99]* In another case, after a man took drugs intended to induce death, his physical symptoms were so disturbing that his wife called 911. a hospital where he was resuscitated.