Physician-Assisted Suicide Bill Is Back
[Posted 02/09/06]

CMA last year helped defeat a bill that would have legalized physician-assisted suicide in California. Nevertheless, proponents have introduced a similar bill this year.. Their efforts were given added impetus from a 2006 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that barred the U.S. Attorney General from using federal prescribing regulations to penalize physicians who participated in Oregon’s physician-assisted suicide program. Though CMA opposes physician-assisted suicide, CMA did file a brief opposing federal interference in the physician-patient relationship.

This year’s physician-assisted suicide bill (AB 651), renamed the California Compassionate Choice Act to make it more appealing, would permit an adult with a qualified terminal medical condition to request prescription medicine for the purpose of ending his or her life. CMA policy reaffirmed by the CMA House of Delegates in 2005 opposes the legalization of physician-assisted suicide as a violation of the fundamental ethic of the medical profession to “do no harm.”

Physicians are trained to provide compassionate care. A patient with a terminal illness may suffer from fear of pain, depression, isolation or a loss of dignity. The physician’s role is to reduce such suffering and provide compassionate palliative care. Research shows that many individuals who request physician-assisted suicide withdraw such requests when their fears are addressed and their pain and depression are treated.

The bill is currently before the state Senate Judiciary Committee. CMA urges physicians to call their senators and ask them to oppose the legalization of physician-assisted suicide.

To find the name and contact information of your legislators, click here and enter your zip code.

Contact: Susan Bassett, 916/444-5532 or sbassett@cmanet.org.