Jul 25, 2008

Physician-Assisted Suicide | Physician-Assisted Suicide Is Not Ethical

James K. Boehnlein is associate professor of psychiatry and assistant dean for curriculum at Oregon Health Science University.

Source: The act of physician-assisted suicide is inconsistent with the physician’s role as healer. If physician-assisted suicide becomes a routine option, the responsibility of the doctor to assist patients at the end of their lives will be diminished. Societal acceptance of physician-assisted suicide will not increase patients’ autonomy, as supporters claim. Rather, patients will be pressured in subtle ways by doctors, family...