Today, the American Medical Association (AMA) after much debate, rejected a policy that would embrace Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS). In previous policy deliberations, the AMA said they “strongly opposes any bill to legalize physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia, as these practices are fundamentally inconsistent with the physician’s role as healer.”

This was not the first time this particular resolution has been brought forward to change their position from opposition to PAS to make it neutral.

The current policy will stand, which states, “physicians must not perform euthanasia or participate in assisted suicide. A more careful examination of the issue is necessary. The societal risks of involving medical professionals in assisted suicide is too great to condone.”

In countries around the world, we have seen the dangers of PAS, with doctors or parents utilizing PAS to euthanize infants or those with disabilities. PAS is currently legal in eleven states in the United States, including California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Montana, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

The popularity of PAS spiked following the 2014 case of a young woman named Brittany Maynard, who moved from her California home to Oregon to access the pill regimen to end her life. Her case proceeded legalization of PAS in California. The organization that promoted her story, “Compassion and Choices”, is known for preying on the sick and elderly.