OREGON : Physician Faces Euthanasia Charge

State health officials accused a Corvallis, Ore., doctor of ordering a lethal injection for a patient against her wishes. The state Board of Medical Examiners filed a complaint accusing Dr. James D. Gallant of engaging in “active euthanasia” and voted 10 to 0 to pursue disciplinary action, the Oregonian newspaper reported. The state board alleged that Clarietta Day, 78, who had a brain hemorrhage, was given a lethal injection of a muscle-relaxing drug without her knowledge or consent. She died 15 minutes later on March 22. “I followed the wishes of the patient and the family,” Gallant said. He has 21 days to request a hearing in the case.