Oregon voters have approved the state’s assisted suicide law twice. But Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback has taken it upon himself to impose his will on Oregon voters.

Brownback, a Republican, has introduced legislation that would obliterate the Oregon law by making it illegal to use a controlled substance to assist in a suicide or cause death.

We think Brownback should represent the voters of Kansas. Oregon voters have made plain how they feel about the issue. And we already have two senators. He can always move here and run for office if he wants to start representing Oregon.

The first time Oregon voters approved assisted suicide was in a general election in November 1994. It passed 51 percent to 49 percent. The second time – in 1997 – voters rejected an attempt to repeal the Death with Dignity Act. About 60 percent of voters chose to retain the act. The Oregon law says doctors can write prescriptions for a lethal dosage of medication to people with a terminal illness.

Brownback says, “States should understand the unintended consequences and slippery slope of doctor-assisted suicide and euthanasia. Legalizing doctor-assisted suicide can lead toward involuntary euthanasia, as we have seen in the Netherlands.” He adds that it could lead to a financial incentive for insurance companies to kill off patients and “overlook the patient’s need for psychological help.”

First of all, anytime you see somebody arguing about a slippery slope, be suspicious – unless they are talking about the scree on South Sister. The slippery slope argument is a common logical fallacy. There’s no proof that Oregon’s law will lead to anything but terminally ill patients being able to end their lives without prolonged suffering.

In fact, Oregon has careful safeguards about how the prescriptions are written and how the patients administer the dosage. Just over 240 people have used the law since it came into effect. The law seems to be working just as Oregon voters intended.

Ron Wyden, one of Oregon’s real senators, has blocked Brownback’s bill in the Senate. Unless Brownback can line up 59 others to vote with him, the block will hold.