Yesterday, at its annual meeting in Chicago, the American Medical Association (AMA) rejected a Louisiana State Medical Society proposal to reaffirm the AMA’s long-standing policy against physician assisted suicide. Instead it approved a study-resolution to explore AMA adoption of a neutral position on physician assisted suicide, which was often referred to as “aid-in-dying” in the debate.
The study will be led by the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, which will study a possible change to the AMA policy and report back with recommendations to the AMA Annual Meeting next year.
Dr. Jeff White, a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society and physician ally of Louisiana Right to Life, said the following after the AMA vote:
“The AMA’s decision to study a possible change in position on doctor-prescribed suicide is very concerning for the future of the integrity of the medical profession. For millennia, the medical profession has been in unison that physicians prescribing death for their patients is antithetical to the mission of healing integral to the role of a physician. If the AMA changes it long-standing policy of opposition to doctor-prescribed suicide, it will provide justification for proponents in their push to legalize this dangerous and uncontrollable policy.
“I encourage physicians, state medical societies, disability rights organizations, and all people concerned about the adverse consequences that could result from a change in the AMA’s policies to submit, at the appropriate time, their concerns to the AMA’s Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs. A bad decision by AMA on this could have a lasting negative impact on how medicine is practiced, the doctor patient relationship of trust, and the true autonomy of underprivileged persons.”
Editor’s note. This update comes from Louisiana Right to Life, NRLC’s state affiliate.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
