Page 10 - Delaware Medical Journal - April 2018
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PRESIDENT’S PAGE
the Medical Society of Delaware. That policy, as of the date of this publication, is included within this issue.
The strength of the Medical Society of Delaware is evident in both the diversity of thoughts and the diversity of opinions of our members on issues, as well as the willingness to engage in an open and
honest dialogue about them. The issue of PAS has been no different. I believe this by John J. Goodill, MD and Robert J. Varipapa, Sr., MD in this issue on PAS. to be well informed.
I look forward to the response of the
Medical Society of Delaware’s membership to the coming survey on PAS that is referred to in the article by Dr. Goodill.
Richard W. Henderson, MD
President, Medical Society of Delaware
Medical Society of Delaware Statement on Physician-Assisted Suicide
The Medical Society of Delaware responsibility to improve the care of dying patients and their families.
MSD does not support the legalization of physician-assisted suicide, the practice of which raises ethical, clinical, and other concerns.
MSD recognizes that there are well- meaning people on both sides of the issue on physician-assisted suicide and there
is much division in both the public and professional domain.
It is the view of MSD that this practice is problematic given the nature of the patient-physician relationship, affecting the trust in that relationship as well as in the profession, and fundamentally alters the medical profession’s role in society.
Control over the manner and timing of a person’s death has not been and should not be a goal of medicine.1
Physician-assisted suicide is neither
questions raised at the end of life.1
It is critical that the medical profession redouble its efforts in providing
optimal treatment at end of life to
limit suffering, both physical and psychological. Physicians must resist the natural tendency to withdraw physically and emotionally from their terminally ill patients.
Requests for physician-assisted suicide should be a signal to the physician that the patient’s needs are not being met and further evaluation to identify the elements contributing to the patient’s suffering is necessary. Interdisciplinary intervention including specialty consultation, spiritual care, family counseling, and other modalities should be sought as indicated.
MSD supports the recommendations in
Life Work Group that was submitted to the Delaware Health Care Commission in March 2016.2 Included were:
Increased access to palliative care and hospice and a systematic addressing of barriers to such care.
There is much work to be done here
in Delaware to ensure the provision
of high quality end-of-life care for all our neighbors and their families. MSD pledges to be a leader in the effort to improve the end-of-life experience for all so that an option of last resort, like physician-assisted suicide, is never needed.
Adopted by Executive Board 10/26/2017
Adopted by Council 11/18/2017
REFERENCES
1. Ethics and the Legalization of Physician- Assisted Suicide: An American College of Physicians Position Paper; Annals of Internal Medicine; Sept. 19, 2017.
2. Delaware End-of-Life Workgroup. Final Report and Recommendations, March 31, 2016. Presented to the Delaware Health Care Commission.
Creation of a state-wide coalition/ body for coordinating activity aimed at improving end-of-life care across the state.
Increased awareness and education for both the public and providers about care options at end of life, including palliative care and hospice care.
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