The American Medical Association appears to be close to concluding a years-long process of amending its long-standing opposition to assisted suicide.

Posted free of charge. Conversation opened. 1 unread message. Skip to content Using Gmail with screen readers Click here to enable desktop notifications for Gmail. Learn more Hide More 50 of 367 American Medical Association Close to Altering Assisted Suicide Stance Inbox x Bobby Schindler, Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network Jun 12 to me Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network The American Medical Association appears to be close to concluding a years-long process of amending its long-standing opposition to assisted suicide, and as soon as early next year the AMA could adopt a "neutral" or openly supportive position on the practice of physicians prescribing suicide as a response to demand from patients. Lindsey Bever of The Washington Post provides context: The American Medical Association, the nation's most prominent doctors' group, has maintained the same guidance for the past quarter-century: “Physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control, and would pose serious societal risks.” Yet this week in Chicago, the AMA House of Delegates will debate and vote on whether the association's Code of Medical Ethics should be revised. “The mere fact that they're considering it again tells you that it's a changing climate,” said Art Caplan, a professor of bioethics and head of the division of medical ethics at New York University School of Medicine. ... The AMA's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs ... is recommending that the Code of Medical Ethics “not be amended” and continue to refer to “physician-assisted suicide,” saying that language still “describes the practice with the greatest precision.” The delegates could accept the recommendation or send it back for further review. Sadly, the AMA's House of Delegates voted 56%-44% to "further study" its stance on forms of suicide, and seems poised to overturn or fundamentally alter its guidance on suicide's permissibility in a medical context. "What patients desperately require is treatment from their physicians, and care from their nurses. If that treatment and care is not life-affirming, then it is simply not genuine medicine," reflects Bobby Schindler, President of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network. "If and when the AMA alters its stance on forms of suicide, the result will be that many Americans who may not be near death will be encouraged to end their lives. That isn't medicine. It's politics and ideology dressed in a physician's lab coat." "The experience of our European brothers and sisters," added Tom Shakely, Executive Director, "demonstrates that any change from the AMA regarding assisted suicide will result in it becoming available for those with non-terminal conditions ranging from manageable diabetes to severe depression. Especially in light of the high-profile, self-inflicted deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain just last week, the AMA's decision to 'further study' the value of suicide is incredible." ### Consider a gift to strengthen the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network today. Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network · 222 N 17th St, Suite 1104, Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States This email was sent to kmillerbloggerablogbyken@gmail.com. To stop receiving emails, click here. You can also keep up with Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network on Twitter or Facebook. Created with NationBuilder, software for leaders. Click here to Reply or Forward 0.14 GB (0%) of 15 GB used Manage Terms · Privacy · Program Policies Last account activity: 7 days ago Details