Doctor/Medical Assisted Suicide

[Kevin]

And yet... from the New England Journal of Medicine, an abstract:

BACKGROUND

Since the Oregon Death with Dignity Act was passed in November 1994, physicians in Oregon have faced the prospect of legalized physician-assisted suicide. We studied the attitudes and current practices of Oregon physicians in relation to assisted suicide.
Full Text of Background...

METHODS

From March to June 1995, we conducted a cross-sectional mailed survey of all physicians who might be eligible to prescribe a lethal dose of medication if the Oregon law is upheld. Physicians were asked to complete and return a confidential 56-item questionnaire.
Full Text of Methods...

RESULTS

Of the 3944 eligible physicians who received the questionnaire, 2761 (70 percent) responded. Sixty percent of the respondents thought physician-assisted suicide should be legal in some cases, and nearly half (46 percent) might be willing to prescribe a lethal dose of medication if it were legal to do so; 31 percent of the respondents would be unwilling to do so on moral grounds. Twenty-one percent of the respondents have previously received requests for assisted suicide, and 7 percent have complied. Half the respondents were not sure what to prescribe for this purpose, and 83 percent cited financial pressure as a possible reason for such requests. The respondents also expressed concern about complications of suicide attempts and doubts about their ability to predict survival at six months accurately.
Full Text of Results...

CONCLUSIONS
Oregon physicians have a more favorable attitude toward legalized physician-assisted suicide, are more willing to participate, and are currently participating in greater numbers than other surveyed groups of physicians in the United States. A sizable minority of physicians in Oregon objects to legalization and participation on moral grounds. Regardless of their attitudes, physicians had a number of reservations about the practical applications of the act.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056...99602013340507

This, of course, was a survey taken a long time ago, even before Oregon legalized physician assisted suicide. It'd be interesting to see where things stand now, but I couldn't find such an article. From the more recent literature, I think you overstate your case when you say the "vast majority" of physicians feel as you do. I've read several polls at this point, some conducted by professional researchers and I might go so far as to say physicians are 60/40 against physician assisted suicide.

Originally Posted by AOIIAngel

The physician's job is not to carry out every wish of the patient. That does not constitute harm.

I don't think anyone would suggest that you're wrong. At least not in absolute terms. That doesn't mean that the physician has the sole authority for deciding what is in the patient's best interests and what is harmful. Doesn't the medical community employ ethics panels for that very reason? Because physicians on their own can sometimes lack objectivity?

[AXOmom]

I'm not in a field where I would know how scientifically valid a study might be, but this one looked like it covered the effects of Oregon's law (or how it was actually working) pretty comprehensively and objectively. It's from 2004, so quite some time after the law went into effect.

http://www.leg.state.vt.us/reports/0...ity_report.htm

[carnation]

My uncle died of AIDS several years ago. He was a physician, as was his partner, and we're pretty sure that a group of their friends had a pact to help anyone in the group die should they begin to suffer hugely. He had almost no symptoms for years and suddenly, everything descended on him. His partner called my mom and said, "Your brother died a few hours ago and he was cremated a couple of hours later so you guys don't really have to come if you're busy."

I forgot what hints we got over the years but the death pact theory really began to make sense after awhile. Part of me gets why they did it and part of me is horrified by the idea of putting a lucid human to death. I really, really have mixed feelings.

[aggieAXO]

Originally Posted by carnation

My uncle died of AIDS several years ago. He was a physician, as was his partner, and we're pretty sure that a group of their friends had a pact to help anyone in the group die should they begin to suffer hugely. He had almost no symptoms for years and suddenly, everything descended on him. His partner called my mom and said, "Your brother died a few hours ago and he was cremated a couple of hours later so you guys don't really have to come if you're busy."

I forgot what hints we got over the years but the death pact theory really began to make sense after awhile. Part of me gets why they did it and part of me is horrified by the idea of putting a lucid human to death. I really, really have mixed feelings.

On that note-my close friends (all vets) also have a pact. We all know each others wishes.
I don't understand why "death" is treated as such a dirty word/thing. It is a part of life. It is going to happen to all of us, why not make it quick, painless and peaceful?

[aggieAXO]

I don't understand why we do not allow euthanasia for people. It is my life-if I want to die I should be able to chose this and die with diginity. If I have a terminal disease or I am in chronic pain or even mental anguish (severe depression) and I want to end my life I should be able to do it painlessly and safely. That being said, I will definitely have a bottle of beuth stashed away (or maybe some phenobarb and valium or propofol) if the time ever comes and I am in a situation where I can no longer lead a productive, happy life. For me it is about QUALITY, not quantity. I have dealt with hospice (my father passed away 2 years ago) and frankly there is no way I am going to go through that. I will not go to a nursing home. We all are going to die someday-you cannot escape it-why not make it peaceful and painless??

I suppose vets see it differently than most people b/c we perform euthanasia everyday-and I thank the lord we can.

[Splash]

Originally Posted by aggieAXO

I don't understand why we do not allow euthanasia for people. It is my life-if I want to die I should be able to chose this and die with diginity. If I have a terminal disease or I am in chronic pain or even mental anguish (severe depression) and I want to end my life I should be able to do it painlessly and safely. That being said, I will definitely have a bottle of beuth stashed away (or maybe some phenobarb and valium or propofol) if the time ever comes and I am in a situation where I can no longer lead a productive, happy life. For me it is about QUALITY, not quantity. I have dealt with hospice (my father passed away 2 years ago) and frankly there is no way I am going to go through that. I will not go to a nursing home. We all are going to die someday-you cannot escape it-why not make it peaceful and painless??

I suppose vets see it differently than most people b/c we perform euthanasia everyday-and I thank the lord we can.

Then commit suicide. Do not make someone else do it for you

[DrPhil]

Aggie, by "vets" are you talking about veterinarians(sp)? Do you think the life and death of an animal is comparable to that of a human? I do not believe the average "vet" who is accustomed to performing euthenasia for dogs and cats would be so mentally and physically willing and able to assist in the passing of a human.

Splash, that makes sense for people who are mentally and physically capable of committing suicide with no assistance. However, assisted suicide is often applied to people who are not able to do that.

[aggieAXO]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Aggie, by "vets" are you talking about veterinarians(sp)? Do you think the life and death of an animal is comparable to that of a human? I do not believe the average "vet" who is accustomed to performing euthenasia for dogs and cats would be so mentally and physically willing and able to assist in the passing of a human.

Splash, that makes sense for people who are mentally and physically capable of committing suicide with no assistance. However, assisted suicide is often applied to people who are not able to do that.

Yes, as veterinarians we deal with death on a daily basis. I obviously cannot speak for every vet but if the human was suffering and wanted me to help them along I would do it -if it were legal. I suspect there are physicians who help patients along but just can't document it as such. Suffering is suffering to me.

[DrPhil]

You all deal with the death of animals everyday. However, in a culture like that in North America where the "animals are divine spiritual beings" and "animals are people too" beliefs are the minority, I would question the mental health of a vet who TRULY believes that putting a bird "to sleep" is the same as putting a human "to sleep." That does not mean that some vets would not medically assist a suicide if need be. But, your post implied that the vet factor matters such that "a death is a death is a death" as though assisting with a person's death is automatically and always so easy and casual.

[aggieAXO]

I would not "make" someone else do it. I suspect there are physicians out there that are not opposed to helping people but b/c it is illegal they cannot. The law needs to change. If you are against it then that is your perogative but do not interfere with my wishes.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by aggieAXO

I suppose vets see it differently than most people b/c we perform euthanasia everyday-and I thank the lord we can.

Originally Posted by aggieAXO

I have 2 very close friends that are vets and they are listed in my will as medical POA. They know my wishes and will help my family if the need shoudld arise. Having medical knowledge helps a great deal.

This is what I am responding to. If you were not implying what I was inferring, okay.

Originally Posted by aggieAXO

...so now I am crazy for what I believe-ok that is fine

I said I would question the mental health (I did not use "crazy") of a vet, in the North American culture, who truly believes that animals and humans are the same and therefore euthenasia on a cat is mentally (and even physically, depending) comparable to assisting with the passing of a human. If you do not fit in that category, I do not question your mental health (I did not use "crazy").

Now that the vet thing is out of the way, you can stop being defensive with me. I am not opposed to assisted suicide and I am not bothered that your will specifies what should be done with you.

[aggieAXO]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

This is what I am responding to. If you were not implying what I was inferring, okay.



I said I would question the mental health (I did not use "crazy") of a vet, in the North American culture, who truly believes that animals and humans are the same and therefore euthenasia on a cat is mentally (and even physically, depending) comparable to assisting with the passing of a human. If you do not fit in that category, I do not question your mental health (I did not use "crazy").

Now that the vet thing is out of the way, you can stop being defensive with me. I am not opposed to assisted suicide and I am not bothered that your will specifies what should be done with you.

DrPhil-
It's all good, sorry to come off defensive-hard to do come off any other way sometimes with posts I suppose-think it would be different one on one. I am a pretty easy going gal UNTIL you tell me what to do with my body-that includes abortion or death. Hey, I rescue opossums for a living so... being called crazy (which I know you did not do but probably were thinking-maybe) is ok (having 10-12 opossums in your bathtub for most of spring probably qualifies me for being mentally abnormal) I have a pretty good medical knowledge base and can understand what is going on (be it animal or human, which we are technically animals and suffer from some of the same diseases).

[aggieAXO]

well I tried to edit but it kicked me off-I suppose I don't rescue opossums for a living but it is my passion, as is most wildlife. I pay for it by doing ER work.

[AOII Angel]

You as a vet have the ability to end your own life should it come to that. You have to euthanize animals because they are unable to commit suicide. There is no comparison between veterinary and human medicine. The ethics are completely different.

[AOII Angel]

You don't. Humans have been ending their lives painlessly for millennia without involving physicians.