On June 10, the American Medical Association’s House of Delegates reaffirmed its opposition to the practice of physician assisted suicide by a 392 to 162 vote. This vote is a major development in the fight against the legalization of the dangerous practice of physician assisted suicide.
We offer our congratulations to the tireless work of Shreveport physician Dr. Jeff White who has been all over the nation working with the AMA to keep its position opposed. Dr. White said the following after the vote:
“The AMA decision to maintain opposition to physician assisted suicide as fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer is a solid recommitment by the nation’s largest physician organization to maintain a bedrock principle of medical ethics— your physician should strive to end suffering without ending the lives of those who suffer.”
The following is a release from the Patients Rights Action Fund, a leading national organization in the effort to prevent the dangers of physician assisted suicide:
Patients Rights Action Fund Applauds the American Medical Association for Reaffirming its Opposition to Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia by an Overwhelming Majority
“Today was a big win for patients as the AMA sides with them and people with disabilities who would be at risk for deadly harm through mistakes, coercion, and abuse, all the while carefully guarding the trust upon which the patient-physician relationship is based. Patients deserve care and protection, not a prescription for death.”
Matt Vallière, Executive Director of Patients Rights Action Fund
Chicago, IL– The AMA voted this afternoon 71% to 29% to reaffirm its opposition to the dangerous practice of assisted suicide. Stunning testimony yesterday by many medical students and residents on the dangers of the practice to both patients and the physician-patient relationship carried the day in the reference committee. The committee strongly recommended that the voting body accept their own ethical council’s report and recommendation to reaffirm opposition to assisted suicide.
People from across the political and world-view spectrum agree with the American Medical Association that legalized assisted suicide is contrary to the physician’s role as healer, puts vulnerable patients at risk, and would be difficult or impossible to control. The AMA joins the American College of Physicians and the World Medical Association, both of which reaffirmed their opposition to assisted suicide and euthanasia in the past year.
The Patient’s Rights Action Fund also released a video of the testimony of a young medical student and her opposition to physician assisted suicide. Watch and share!
