In a move aimed at undermining Oregon's assisted suicide law, a U.S. House of Representatives panel on August 4 backed a measure that would penalize doctors who aid such deaths by taking away their ability to prescribe certain controlled drugs.

The bill was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on a voice vote. The panel earlier voted along party lines against several Democratic amendments aimed at modifying the bill.

The bill does distinguish between giving a drug to control pain, even though it might hasten death, and giving a drug specifically to cause a death.

Several Democrats said they feared the distinction was not drawn clearly enough, and that doctors might shy away from prescribing strong painkillers to dying patients for fear that they would be invetigated by the Drug Enforcement Authority, which regulates controlled substances like morphine.

Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde, Illinois Republican, said no vote by the full House has yet been scheduled, but he expects one before Congress wraps up its work in October.

A similar bill is pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

-- MSNBC News