With today's medical technology it is possible - and probable - to live way beyond what used to be possible. Knowing that, I feel no compulsion to take advantage of today's capability just to keep my blood circulating or my lungs to keep inflating.

I don't see it as shortening one's life, but shortening the death process.

And yes, I'm originally from Oregon, where they've had legalized assisted suicide for the last decade. Subject to stringent conditions, of course.

Here is what it says:

"On October 27, 1997 Oregon enacted the Death with Dignity Act (the Act) which allows terminally-ill Oregonians to end their lives through the voluntary self-administration of lethal medications, expressly prescribed by a physician for that purpose. The Act requires the Oregon Department of Human Services to collect information about the patients and physicians who participate in the Act, and publish an annual statistical report. These data are important to parties on both sides of the issue."

A few years ago the act was challenged on the federal level but persevered.