Neutrality on Physician Aid in Dying

Neutrality on Physician Aid in Dying

WHEREAS, a voter initiative campaign to permit physician aid in dying based solely on self-administration of medications has been launched in Washington State, and

WHEREAS, the medical community has come to embrace the concept of patient-centered care that encourages joint participation in medical care decisions and respect for a patients values, preferences and expressed needs, and

WHEREAS, The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine has adopted a position of "studied neutrality" on the subject of whether physician-assisted dying should be legally regulated or prohibited, and

WHEREAS, a recent Washington State Medical Association-sponsored survey indicates that physicians in this state are evenly divided on whether to support physician-assisted dying based solely on self-administration of medications, and

WHEREAS, any position other than one of strict neutrality may jeopardize the reputation of the WAFP by allowing partisan interests on either side of the issue to use the stance for their own political advantage, and

WHEREAS, strict neutrality is the only position the WAFP could adopt that would not misrepresent the collective view of Washington family physicians while taking into account that the views of individual physicians may vary widely on the subject of physician-assisted dying, be it further

RESOLVED, with regard to a citizen initiative relating to physician aid in dying, the WAFP adopt an organizational position of strict neutrality, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the WAFP continue to support the further extension of Hospice Care, Palliative Care and Pain Management plus other techniques that further optimize end-of-life care for the terminally ill, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the WAFP encourage physicians to speak out on the issue and express their honest personal opinions on the subject with patients who seek to discuss it.

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Neutrality on Physician Aid in Dying

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