Doctor Survey on Physican-Assisted Suicide Flawed

 

From News & Views, 10-09-08

 

Seattle Times. September 22, 2008--Initiative 1000, which would allow doctors to write lethal-dose prescriptions for terminally ill, competent adult Washington residents, appears to be about patients. It would enact the "Washington Death with Dignity Act," which is filled with language about letting patients end their lives in a "humane and dignified" manner. But really, the proposal is all about doctors. If they follow the rules set forth in the initiative, it would protect them from prosecution for "promoting a suicide attempt" — a felony under state law — for helping those patients die.

 

Despite statements from the official state physicians organization, doctors in Washington remain deeply divided on the issue, as they have been for years. In July, the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), which represents nearly 7,000 doctors in Washington, said it opposes the measure and that its "opposition was emphatically voted on" at last year's meeting. In fact, WSMA members never voted on the initiative. And a survey WSMA commissioned last year actually found slightly more doctors approved of the provisions of I-1000 than opposed them. In the survey, completed by Elway Research, 50 percent of doctors responding said they would support a measure like I-1000 while 42 percent would oppose it. Female physicians were more likely to support such a law.

 

Most larger surveys have shown that doctors here — and elsewhere in the country — are profoundly conflicted on this issue. In a national survey in 2005, 59 percent said doctors should be "given the right to dispense prescriptions to patients to end their life," while 41 percent disagreed. In a 1994 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, slightly more than half of Washington doctors said they favored allowing doctors to prescribe lethal medication, and even to administer it — known as euthanasia — in some circumstances, although most would not be willing to participate in either.

 

 

Issue Summary - Washington Initiative 1000

 

The core of this bill is a template of the Oregon bill, but it does have a number of things added.

 

  1. Washington residency is not adequately defined. (All that is currently needed is voter registration or a driver’s license. Only students wanting in-state tuition have a waiting period.)
  2. There are many details on what can and cannot be done to physicians who assist in a person's death in a facility that prohibits PAS. For example, you can take away the doctor’s lease on facilities but can’t cause them to lose privileges in the institution; an employee can “privately contract” with a patient to dispense the medicine outside the facility; etc.
  3. There is a whole list of laws and regulations that are not mandatory to record, such as cases involving infants.

 

Continued

 

 

CMDA Washington State Task Force Chair Against Washington Initiative 1000 Susan Rutherford, MD: "Proponents of Initiative 1000 have been misrepresenting token support for physician-assisted suicide by doctors in Washington State. A scientific poll was never conducted. A 2007 survey offered to Washington State Medical Association members gave the topic as related to the business of health care practice, and no measures were taken to ensure that members knew that PAS would be addressed, or that the responses would be representative of the membership, much less the opinions of all doctors in the state. Only about 500 doctors responded.

 

"WSMA policy, which is firmly opposed to PAS and euthanasia, is established by vote of the House of Delegates after vigorous debate open to all interested members. For the past three years efforts to neutralize or soften this opposition were soundly defeated and a year ago it was even strengthened through a resolution offered by another CMDA member.

 

"As Christian physicians, we take seriously our professional duty to protect the vulnerable. Our patients are hardly more fragile and weak than when they approach death. How precious it is to learn of the worth and dignity of each person made in the image of God, and to be the hands of Jesus in showing true love and compassion. It is also a privilege to use our God-given time, talent, and treasure in the realm of professional societies and fighting battles such as this one against physician-assisted suicide. I have learned that the time spent volunteering within medical associations pays off when there is a sudden need to stand up for the highest principles of medical ethics. I have also learned the value and encouragement in having like-minded colleagues. Let us stand together. Even with prospects of being a bit tired and bloodied, we trust that our Lord will use it all for good."

 

Carol M. Ostrom. "Doctors Divided on Assisted Suicide." Seattle Times. September 22, 2008.