{"id":301582,"date":"2023-11-16T10:42:22","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T16:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=301582"},"modified":"2023-11-15T12:01:22","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T18:01:22","slug":"american-medical-association-opposition-assisted-suicide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/american-medical-association-opposition-assisted-suicide\/","title":{"rendered":"American Medical Association maintains opposition to assisted suicide and euthanasia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The American Medical Association (AMA) decided recently against repealing its policy opposing assisted suicide and euthanasia. It also vetoed a measure that would have changed the terms “assisted suicide” and “euthanasia” to the more euphemistic phrase, “medical aid in dying” (also referred to as “medical assistance in dying).<\/p>\n

According to The New York Sun<\/a>, the AMA’s governing body, the House of Delegates, debated the policy changes during its November 10 – 14 meeting. The proposals considered suggested<\/a> that “medical aid in dying” is \u201ca matter of personal autonomy\u201d and an expression of \u201cself-determination.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though there was speculation prior to the meeting that the AMA would declare acceptance of assisted death, especially as the practice grows in popularity worldwide, the group decided instead to maintain its former policy, which states:<\/p>\n

\u201cPhysician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician\u2019s role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control, and would pose serious societal risks. Instead of engaging in assisted suicide, physicians must aggressively respond to the needs of patients at the end of life.”<\/em><\/p>\n

A number of groups had actively campaigned against the resolution change prior to the AMA’s meeting, including the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) and the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe combination of online comments, contact with AMA delegates, and in-person testimony at the meeting all contributed to these decisions by the AMA,\u201d said<\/a> CMA Board Member Dr. Timothy Millea, chair of the Health Care Policy Committee and Conscience Rights Protection Task Force.<\/p>\n