ORS 34.520: Sickness of person.

Whenever, from the sickness or infirmity of the party, the party cannot, without danger, be produced, the officer or person in whose custody the party is may state that fact in the return to the writ, and if satisfied of the truth of the allegation, and the return is otherwise sufficient, the court or judge shall proceed to decide on the return, and to dispose of the matter, the same as if the party had been produced.