When, at the request of the patient, a physician administers a medication or treatment, the intent of which is to end the patient's life.
The patient makes a conscious choice to decide the time and manner of their death. This includes cases of:
- Asking for help with dying.
- Refusing burdensome medical treatment.
- Asking for medical treatment to be stopped, or life support machines to be switched off.
- Refusing to eat.
- Simply deciding to die.
Related Information:
The AMA opposes enactment of any type of federal or state legislation that would require a physician to provide the medicines, techniques, or advice necessary for a patient to pursue a course of suicide, or which would require a physician who is unwilling to participate in suicide to refer the patient to a physician who would be willing to do so.
Often referred to as just Euthanasia.
Sources:
BBC. Religion & Ethics. Euthanasia. At: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/euthanasia/overview/keywords.shtml
American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Position Statement. 2002. Physician-assisted Suicide and Voluntary Active Euthanasia. AGS Ethics Committee. At: http://www.americangeriatrics.org/products/positionpapers/vae94.shtml
Boyd DM. The Decision Makers? Bioethics Group. American Medical Student Association. At: http://www.amsa.org/bio/decision.cfm
American Medical Association's Policy on Voluntary Active Euthanasia. 1997. At: http://www.ama-assn.org/apps/pf_new/pf_online?f_n=browse&doc=policyfiles/HnE/H-140.987.HTM
