OLYMPIA, Wash. — Now that the nation’s highest court has upheld Oregon’s assisted-suicide law, supporters in Washington say there’s bound to be a push for a similar law here.

Washington voters narrowly rejected an initiative in 1991 that would have allowed doctors to write prescriptions to hasten death. Initiative 119 also would have allowed doctors to administer lethal injections to terminally ill patients who aren’t able to take the medications on their own.

Oregon’s law, the only one of its kind in the country, allows doctors just to write prescriptions for patients, who must administer the drugs themselves.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Bush administration’s attempt to punish doctors who help terminally ill patients die.

Rep. Hans Dunshee of Snohomish and Sen. Pat Thibaudeau of Seattle are among the Democrats who have said they’re considering sponsoring bills this session to legalize physician-assisted suicide.

Dunshee said he was moved by a constituent who told him how his young wife suffered while she died of cancer. “He said to me, ‘You’ve got to fix this,’’’ Dunshee told The Seattle Times for a story in Wednesday editions.

Thibaudeau sponsored an assisted-suicide bill in the mid-’90s. “I don’t doubt we need something,’’ Thibaudeau said. “I would be happy to introduce it if I thought it was going to go anywhere.’’

Robb Miller, executive director of Compassion & Choices of Washington, the state’s largest aid-in-dying advocacy group, said no discussions were being held yet on whether to float a new voter initiative. But, he said: “I do think it’s inevitable it will pass here now. It’s just a question of when.’’

“I would be surprised if those who support physician-assisted suicide could find a lot of support across the state, financial or otherwise,’’ Dan Kennedy, CEO of Human Life of Washington. “As far as the people of Washington state demanding such a thing, I just don’t see it.’’

Polls have shown that voters support patient autonomy when it comes to life-or-death decisions, but are divided on “assistance’’ in dying.

Miller said that in Washington, some doctors have made their peace with the issue in the 15 years since the failed Initiative 119.

“It’s relatively easy in Washington to find a physician who supports aid in dying,’’ Miller said.

The Washington State Medical Association opposed I-119. It also opposed the federal government’s action against doctors in the Oregon case, but Executive Director Tom Curry said that did not constitute an endorsement of Oregon’s law.

Curry declined to predict what side the association would take on any future push to pass an assisted-suicide law in Washington.

“This has been an issue that doctors have had a split opinion on here and elsewhere,’’ he said. “I’m sure the WSMA would be engaged in a vigorous debate internally, and I wouldn’t want to presuppose the outcome of that.’’