Doctors in the United Kingdom, have reaffirmed their opposition to assisted suicide, following a debate at their annual conference in Liverpool on July 1st. This reaffirmation came about following a challenge by Dr. Chand, who wanted to change legislation to allow the choice of an assisted death by patients, who are terminally ill and have mental capacity.
Doctors also rejected a measure to ensure that those accompanying the patient, at an assisted death, but not actively participating, will not be subject to criminal prosecution.
Wow! The British must have not heard about Michael Jackson! I believe there was a doctor, who was not only present on Michael's premises, but purportedly began the resuscitative measures. I wonder if the US will hold him accountable? His father certainly wants to hang him. But then his father, has himself, never been a stellar presence in Michael's life.
The British physician summed it up by saying, "It is clear that doctors do not wish to play a role in assisting a patient's death. Assisting patients, to die prematurely, is not part of the moral ethos, or the primary goal of medicine. If the legislation were to be changed, it would have serious negative consequence on the relationships between doctors and their patients. It remains vital, that access, to the best quality palliative care is available, in order to ensure, that terminal suffering is properly managed.
I wonder if the AMA will reaffirm their opposition to physician assisted suicide, or assisted suicide of any kind?
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