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Euthanizing Medicine

Euthanizing Medicine. David Stevens, MD, MA (Ethics) CEO Christian Medical & Dental Associations. PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE. DEFINING TERMS. Suicide Pulling the Plug Refusing Treatment Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) Euthanasia Passive Euthanasia Active Euthanasia

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Euthanizing Medicine

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  1. Euthanizing Medicine David Stevens, MD, MA (Ethics) CEO Christian Medical & Dental Associations

  2. PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE

  3. DEFINING TERMS • Suicide • Pulling the Plug • Refusing Treatment • Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) • Euthanasia • Passive Euthanasia • Active Euthanasia • Voluntary – Patient Consents • Non-Voluntary – Patient Can’t Consent • Involuntary – Patient refuses or can give consent but not asked

  4. USUAL “SAFEGAURDS” • Less than 6 months to live • Second opinion • Multiple requests • Waiting Period • Can change mind • Confidential report • Not required • Family notification • Psychiatric exam

  5. Christian Beliefs Oppose PAS • Human life is sacred because man is made in God’s image. - Genesis 1:26 • God alone is sovereign over life and death • Deut. 32:39 I put to death and I bring to life. • David says in Psalm 139:16All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. • People’s bodies belong to God - 1 Cor. 6:19) • Suicide is defined as self-killing • Exodus 20:13 Thou shall not kill • The Bible teaches that human dignity is inherent and not based on capabilities or quality of life.

  6. JEWISH BELIEFS ABOUT PAS We cannot sanction, favor or support the legalization of physician-assisted suicide. Central Conference of American Rabbis

  7. A Doctor shall not take away life even when motivated by mercy. This is prohibited because this is not one of the legitimate indications for killing. Direct guidance in this respect is given by the Prophet's tradition: "In old times there was a man with an ailment that taxed his endurance. He cut his wrist with a knife and bled to death. God was displeased and said "My subject has hastened his end I deny him paradise. MUSLIM BELIEFS The Holy Quran

  8. PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE HAS BEEN PROHIBITED IN MEDICINE FOR OVER 2000 YEARS • History of Hippocratic Oath • The oath says the doctor “will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect” • First “Do no harm”

  9. “PAS is fundamentally inconsistent with the physician’s professional role.” • “The medical profession must redouble its efforts to provide optimal end of life care.” • “Requests to physicians for PAS should signal the M.D. that the patient’s needs are unmet and further help is needed.”

  10. PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE IS DANGEROUS

  11. IT IS DANGEROUSFOR PHYSICIANS

  12. DESTROYED

  13. IT TAKES NO GREAT SKILL TO KILL

  14. Gives Physicians Too Much Power

  15. DANGEROUS FOR FAMILIES

  16. GUILT ANGER SADNESS

  17. DISSENSION

  18. Interview with 84 year-old woman... when I started losing my hearing about three years ago, it irritated my daughter. She began to question me about financial matters and apparently feels I won’t leave much of an estate to her... She became very rude.... Then one evening (she said) she thought it was okay for older people to commit suicide... So I sit, day after day, knowing what I am expected to do.

  19. IT ISDANGEROUS FORPATIENTS

  20. The Right to Die will become The Duty to Die

  21. PRECLUDES RATIONAL DECISION MAKING

  22. DEPRESSION

  23. IT IS DANGEROUS FORSOCIETY

  24. THERE IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE

  25. SAFEGUARDS DON’T WORK

  26. IS SUBJECTIVE

  27. Lives Not Worthy to be Lived?

  28. Oregon’s “Experiment” Isn’t Working

  29. SO WHAT DO WE DO?

  30. Fight PAS • Pain Management • Modify Narcotics Law • More Hospice • Dx and Rx Depression • Holistic Care • Involve the Church

  31. RESOURCES • Christian Medical Association: www.cmda.org • Family Research Council: www.frc.org • National Right to Life Committee: www.nrlc.org • Life Issues Institute: www.lifeissues.org • Means to a Better End: A Report on Dying in America Today, November 2002: http://www.lastacts.org/files/misc/meansfull.pdf • Life on Hold. Finding Hope in the Face of Serious Illnessby Laurel Seller

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